Masters Theses

Socio-economic, Policy and Institutional Factors Influencing the Implementation of Affordable Housing Programs in Mombasa County, Kenya

2025-11-18T14:03:00Z

Socio-economic, Policy and Institutional Factors Influencing the Implementation of Affordable Housing Programs in Mombasa County, Kenya Awadh, Sheikh Sayyid This study examined the socio-economic, policy, and institutional factors that shaped the Affordable Housing Program (AHP) implementation in Mombasa County, Kenya, to pinpoint obstacles and suggest improvements for effective housing delivery. Employing a quantitative approach, the study gathered data from 226 former Buxton Point Affordable Housing Project residents using structured questionnaires, guided by the Public Interest Economic Regulation Theory, Residual Income Theory, and Institutional Theory. Data were analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics, including correlation and regression analyses. The findings indicated that socio-economic factors, notably low income and high financing costs, severely limited housing affordability, with a correlation coefficient of 0.65 (p < 0.05) between economic factors and implementation outcomes. The correlation analysis for the investigated variables indicated strong positive relationships between government housing policies at 0.65, economic factors had a correlation of 0.75, and Institutional factors had 0.60. This was the measured impact that these variables have towards the successful implementation of the affordable housing program. On the other hand, the ANOVA results also revealed strong interrelations between the implementation of the affordable housing program and government housing policies, being at p = 0.01, and economic factors being at p = 0.003. Institutional factors showed marginal significance of p = 0.05. Only 20% of proposed housing policies were effectively implemented, weakening investor confidence and inflating unit costs. In addition, institutional factors like prolonged approval processes (averaging 12 months) emerged as bottlenecks, increasing project timelines and costs. The study concluded that the AHP faced complex, interconnected challenges requiring cohesive strategies to deliver affordable housing to low- and middle-income households. Recommendations included formulating clear housing policies, improving financing through subsidies and low-interest loans, allocating public land to address availability and costs, enhancing institutional capacity via training and better coordination, and adopting sustainable building practices to lower costs and environmental impact. A Research Thesis Submitted to the School of Business and Economics in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Award of the Degree of Master of Business Administration (Finance and Investments) of Zetech University.

Strategic Management Practices and Performance of the National Housing Corporation of Kenya

2025-11-18T13:39:18Z

Strategic Management Practices and Performance of the National Housing Corporation of Kenya Kasamu, Josiah Mulei This study aimed to investigate the influence of strategic management practices and performance of the National Housing Corporation (NHC) in Kenya. The specific objectives included examining the effects of strategic financial planning and resource allocation, land governance, building technology, and the house ownership process on the performance of the NHC. The study drew upon four established theoretical frameworks: Resource-Based View, Agency Theory, the Balanced Scorecard, and Linear and Adaptive Strategy Model. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating both qualitative and quantitative techniques. A correlational research design was used to assess the relationships between strategic management practices and performance outcomes. The target population consisted of 630 individuals within the NHC, from which a sample size of 245 participants was determined. Quantitative data was collected through structured surveys, which were administered to executives, managers, and staff. The questionnaire return rate was 153 (85%) completed questionnaires out of the 245 targeted respondents. Statistical analysis was conducted using correlation coefficients and regression analysis. Qualitative data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with senior managers and strategic decision-makers, alongside document analysis of reports and policies. The qualitative data was analyzed thematically to identify key factors influencing the effectiveness of strategic management practices. The study revealed that there were significant positive relationships between organizational performance of NHC and strategic financial planning (β = 0.325, p < 0.001), land governance (β = 0.280, p < 0.001), building technology (β = 0.210, p < 0.001), and house ownership process (β = 0.198, p < 0.001). Financial planning and resource allocation practices were positively associated with operational efficiency and revenue generation, emphasizing the importance of sound financial management. Land governance policies were found to influence the ease of land acquisition and compliance with regulatory frameworks, with inefficiencies in these areas posing challenges to organizational operations. Building technology emerged as a critical driver of construction quality, speed, and cost efficiency, highlighting the transformative potential of technological innovation. The house ownership process was linked to customer satisfaction and organizational reputation, with challenges such as affordability and lengthy application processes impacting overall performance. The study findings point to the integral role of strategic management practices in driving the performance of state-owned housing corporations. The study highlights the need for a balanced focus on financial, technological, and operational dimensions to ensure sustainable organizational growth and enhanced service delivery. The study recommends that the government should consider developing comprehensive policies aimed at fostering a more enabling environment for the NHC to implement effective strategic management practices.

Flexible Work Arrangements and Employee Productivity in Murang'a Level 5 Hospital

2025-11-18T12:49:34Z

Flexible Work Arrangements and Employee Productivity in Murang'a Level 5 Hospital Mburu, Martin Mbau This study examined the relationship between employee productivity and flexible work arrangements (FWAs), such as compressed workweeks, flextime, and telecommuting at Murang'a Level 5 Hospital, a Kenyan rural public healthcare facility dealing with a high patient load and staff shortage challenges. Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Model, Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory, and Social Exchange Theory were used. A mixed-methods approach was utilised, surveying 205 employees from a population of 421 selected through stratified sampling. SPSS was used to perform analysis for both qualitative and quantitative data, including thematic coding and multiple regression. Key findings from 186 respondents (90.7% response rate) showed that telecommuting (β = 0.176, p = 0.005), flextime (β = 0.421, p < 0.001), and compressed workweeks (β = 0.269, p < 0.001) had positive effects on employee productivity. The regression analysis yielded R² values of 0.046, 0.236, and 0.107, accounting for approximately 4.6%, 23.6% and 10.7% of the employee productivity variance, respectively. In order to reduce social desirability biases, productivity was assessed using a combination of self-declared Likert scale responses and hospital data, for instance, patient load, attendance, and documentation processing rate. 24 semi-structured interviews were conducted under the qualitative phase, and were analysed thematically by Braun and Clarke (2006) six-phase framework. Qualitative findings explained how flextime helped employees become more productive as they could recover from shifts better. The participants felt less exhausted, and their work-life balance improved, especially those in the non-clinical and support roles. With longer off periods that lowered fatigue, compressed workweeks allowed for more focus and efficiency. Telecommuting did not help too much because there was not enough digital infrastructure and remote-access policies for the clinical staff. Thematic analysis implies that the mechanisms linking FWAs to higher productivity outcomes are employee autonomy, managerial trust, and organisational support. The findings informed hospital management, healthcare professionals, and policymakers on optimising hybrid FWAs to improve service delivery, aligning with Kenya’s Vision 2030, Murang’a County 2022-2027 objectives, and Sustainable Development Goal 3. The study extended existing literature by demonstrating variations in FWA effectiveness across staff categories, with flextime showing stronger impacts in non-clinical roles compared to clinical ones, where physical presence limited telecommuting. This addressed a gap in Kenyan public hospitals, where previous research primarily focused on urban and non-healthcare settings, and highlighted the significance of applying the findings to similar rural facilities while cautioning against direct generalisation without considering local infrastructure. A Thesis Submitted to the School of Business and Economics in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Business Administration (Human Resource Management) of Zetech University

The Effect of Value Addition Strategies on the Performance of Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Kiambu County, Kenya

2025-11-18T12:28:47Z

The Effect of Value Addition Strategies on the Performance of Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Kiambu County, Kenya Kariuki, Francis Mungai In spite of Kiambu County having good agro-ecological settings supportive of milk production and its strategic spread near vast urban markets, a substantial percentage of small-scale dairy holders have low profit margins, largely attributable to inefficient utilization of post-production technologies. The purpose of this study was therefore to examine the effect of value addition strategies on the performance of smallholder dairy producers in Kenya's Kiambu County. Specifically, the study examined the effects of milk processing and product diversification, milk quality improvement and standards compliance, branding and market linkages, and technology adoption on the performance of dairy producers. The study also establish the moderating influence of farmer capacity on the relationship between value addition strategies and the performance of smallholder dairy farmers. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. Out of the population of 162 registered small-scale dairy holders in the county of Kiambu undertaking value addition, a sample of 115 were randomly selected through stratified sampling methods, out of which 112 participated. Data was collected using a questionnaire. Descriptive and statistical methods of inference were undertaken during the analysis process of data. The study found that the value addition strategies significantly improved farm performance in Kiambu County. Technology adoption was the strongest predictor. Farmer capacity building moderated the relationship between value addition and farm performance. The research concluded that value addition improves the competitiveness of small-scale dairy farmers, and farmer capacity helps to enhance these efforts. The study recommends the need to offer training for farmers, improve access to affordable technologies, and link them to reliable markets. A Thesis Submitted to the School of Business and Economics in Partial Fulfilment of the Degree of Master of Business Administration (Strategic Management) of Zetech University