Publications

Research and scholarly work by the University's academics.

From the OUK eRepository

87 publications

Article2026

Exploring the State of Virtual Business Incubation in Kenya: A Survey of Selected Business Incubators

Kevin Wachira

There remains a significant level of unemployment in Kenya especially among the young generation of under 35 years of age. The Government of Kenya, its development partners and private sector continue to put efforts to alleviate this problem. One of their major focus points is entrepreneurship especially at micro and small levels. Unfortunately, these micro and small enterprises have continued to record high mortality rates hence persistence of the unemployment problem. To reduce startup mortality rates business incubation has been evidenced by some studies as a viable solution. However, most incubation activities are done in on-site brick and mortar business incubators requiring face-toface interactions between the incubators’ staff and facilities and incubates. Unfortunately, this model of operation is under serious threat particularly with the advent of COVID 19 pandemic globally. This study aimed at finding out the state of virtual business incubation in Kenya. It was anchored in Schumpeter’s Theory of Creative Destruction as improved in the Simon’s Model. It employed a descriptive survey research design whereby a semi structured questionnaire was electronically issued to six randomly selected business incubators spread across six counties in the country. The main finding was that business incubators in Kenya had not taken up virtual incubation within a majority of their services, except in training and networking. Lack of reliable ICT infrastructure and failure by the incubators to re-package their services in a manner that would facilitate online delivery were cited as the main challenges facing virtual business incubation in the country. Nevertheless, the study noted that business incubators appreciate the benefits posed by virtual incubation and were optimistic about its future adoption. The study recommends that larger scale indepth studies be carried out to identify specific factors influencing effective virtual business incubation in Kenya. Key Words: Virtual Business Incubation, COVID 19, Start-up, SMEs

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2026

Strategic Silence, Strategic Ambiguity, and Strategic Loyalty: A Serial Mediation Model of Leadership Effectiveness in the Banking Sector

Jane Sang

In volatile and tightly regulated business environments, leadership effectiveness may depend as much on restraint as on expression. While traditional leadership models emphasise clarity and vocal influence, leaders operating in complex sectors such as banking often rely on calibrated silence and flexible communication to navigate uncertainty. This study examines how strategic silence contributes to leadership effectiveness and whether this relationship unfolds through strategic ambiguity and strategic loyalty. Drawing on dynamic capabilities theory and social exchange theory, the study employed a cross-sectional survey of managers and supervisory-level employees from selected commercial banks in Eldoret, Kenya. Data were analysed using Hayes’ PROCESS Model 6 with 5,000 bootstrap samples to test a serial mediation framework. The findings show that strategic silence significantly predicts strategic ambiguity (β = .46, p < .001), which in turn strengthens strategic loyalty (β = .41, p < .001). Strategic loyalty exhibits a strong positive effect on leadership effectiveness (β = .52, p < .001). Although strategic silence has a direct positive impact on leadership effectiveness (β = .34, p < .001), this effect reduces but remains significant when mediators are included (β = .15, p < .05), indicating partial mediation. Importantly, the serial indirect pathway from strategic silence to leadership effectiveness through strategic ambiguity and strategic loyalty is significant (β = .09, 95% CI [.04,.16]). These results suggest that intentional silence, when followed by adaptive framing and relational consolidation, enhances leadership effectiveness. The study contributes to leadership scholarship by repositioning silence and ambiguity as strategic capabilities rather than communication deficiencies. Practical implications for leadership development and governance in African financial institutions are discussed.

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Article2026

Employee Wellbeing in Organizations in Post Covid -19 Era

Catherine Laura Mamuli; Gladys Bunyasi

Employee well-being is a multidimensional concept encompassing physical, mental, emotional, and economic aspects. It is crucial for organizational success, as employees are an organization's most valuable resource. Effective leadership plays a pivotal role in creating a positive work environment. Female employees often face unique challenges that affect their well-being, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating these disparities. Workplace interventions traditionally focused on stress reduction but have shown limited effectiveness. This systematic review aims to explore the factors influencing female employee engagement and well-being, particularly during the pandemic. It identifies genderspecific challenges and recommends gender-inclusive well-being programs, promoting gender diversity in leadership, flexible work arrangements, leadership training, regular well-being assessments, inclusivity, and continuous learning. Implementing these recommendations can create an equitable, supportive work environment benefiting both individuals and organizations. Keywords: Employee well-being, female employees, leadership, gender diversity, workplace interventions, COVID-19, systematic review.

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Article2026

Macroeconomic Variables and Carbon Dioxide Emissions Nexus in Kenya

James Onyango; E. Kiano; E. Saina

Ever since the times of industrial revolution, the world is racing to attain high economic development at the expense of natural resources utilization. The pursuit has led to a raise in the exploitation of non-renewable resources through various human activities leading to emissions of greenhouse gases especially carbon dioxide (CO2) that causes global warming and eventually climate change with negative economic repercussions. This study sought to establish the macroeconomic variables and carbon dioxide emissions nexus in Kenya. The study further sought to establish the validity of Environmental Kuznets Curve for Kenya.The analysis is based on auto-regressive distributed lag model of spanning data over time series 1963 to 2017. The results revealed that an increase in the use of energy and population size worsens carbon dioxide emissions while sustainable Agriculture and industrialization reduces the prevalence of carbon dioxide percentage in the atmosphere. The study confirmed an inverted U shape confirming the validity of EKC hypothesis. The model also revealed forty five percent speed of adjustment of the disturbances from the year before in CO2e to equilibrium in the current year. As a policy implication, the study highlights sustainable technologies like carbon arrest and storing, demeaning clean and renewable energy for domestic and industrial use, green initiatives in building and construction, sustainable agriculture focusing on productivity and engaging the public on environmental preservation and management inter alia as essential to reducing carbon release.Keywords:Carbon Dioxide Emission, Gross Domestic Product, Energy Use, Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model, EKC Hypothesis, Kenya

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2026

Determinants of Lending Behavior in Selected Commercial Banks in Kenya

James Onyango Ayieyo

The study determined the effect of volume of deposit and interest rate on total loan advanced by selected commercial banks in Kenya. The study employed a correlation research design and was informed by theory of Money Supply. The population of study constituted all the ten banks listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) as at the year 2012. A census technique was used to constitute a sample size of nine commercial banks. The study focused on a ten-year period analysis (2002-2011) of the comprehensive financial statements of the sample size and adopted an econometric approach to test the degree of correlation between the variables by employing the multiple regression analysis of the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) method. The findings indicated that lending interest rates are negatively related and significantly affect the total loans advanced. Further, volume of deposit in commercial banks has a significant and positive effect on the total loan advanced. Therefore, commercial banks must innovate ways of increasing their profit through fee incomes and commissions since incomes from interest rate tend to decline with increase in the lending interest rate. Keywords: Total Loans, Lending Interest Rates, Volume of Deposit, Commercial Bank, Banking

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Article2026

Entrepreneurial Leadership as a Catalytic Factor for Research Commercialization in Select Kenyan Universities

Kevin Wachira; Onesmus Mbaabu; Peter Kamoni; Robert Ombati; Daniel Mutua

Purpose of the study:This paper examined how entrepreneurial leadership within select Kenyan universities influences the commercialization of research outputs. Problem Statement:Under the pressure of reduced government funding and major changes in the higher education funding model, universities in Kenya are finding themselves in a position where they must innovate and commercialize their research output to earn much-needed revenue.Method:Fourteen universities supported by theKenya National Innovation Agency in 2023/2024 to strengthen their institutional capacity for research commercialization under the Institutional Support Program were selected for this study. Through a qualitative research approach, the study gathered the stories of individual institution leaders and Institutional Working Group (IWG) members and looked for patterns within those. Data was analyzed through descriptive content analysis to determine the direction of the relationship between entrepreneurial leadership and research commercialization success.Findings:The main finding was that the institutional leadership supported research commercialization activities with deliberate decisions and progressive actions, as evidenced herein. However, there were still bottlenecks to the process including human resource motivation issues, inadequate/and or conflicting institutional policy framework for research commercialization, and resource deficiencies. Conclusion: Entrepreneurial leadership plays a catalytic role in driving research commercialization in Kenyan universities, but persistent structural and policy-related barriers must be addressed for sustainable impact.Recommendation:Universities should institutionalize entrepreneurial leadership practices by streamlining decision-making structures, incentivizing innovation, and enhancing commercialization-supportive policies.Keywords: Entrepreneurial leadership, innovation, research commercialization, Kenya, universities

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Article2026

The Effects of Product Differentiation Strategy Oncorporate Growth in Selected Microfinance Institutions In kenya

Stanley Kavale; Fred Mugambi; Gregory Namusonge

The main purpose of this study was to assess the effects of product differentiation strategy on corporate growth of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in Kenya. The study employed descriptive and quantitative research designs. The target population was 57 firms and the sample size was 32 firms arrived at through stratified and purposive sampling methods. The questionnaire was the primary data tool. The study found out that product differentiation strategy has significant effects on corporate growth in MFIs in Kenya. It concludes that increased deployment of product differentiation strategy increases corporate growth in MFIs in Kenya. It recommends that managers should create, protect and maintain differentiated products and services in order to be competitive in industry thus leading to corporate growth. Further, policy makers should find and implement ways of encouraging MFIs to create and maintain product differentiation in their portfolios.Key word: corporate, differentiation, growth, product,strategyInternational Journal for Research in Business, Management and Accounting

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Article2026

Content Validity Assessment and Outcomes of Kenya Clinical Officers Pre-Internship Licensure Examinations

Choge Joseph Kiprop; Marcella Otieno; Manaseh Bocha; Violet Aswa; Eunice Muthoni Kuria; Wako Ibrahim; Maina Nduru et al.

As part of quality assurance, Clinical Officers Council (COC) conducted the content validity assessment of Kenyan Clinical Officers to determinethe association between the program type and the dimensions of professional competence questions, the dimensions of professional competence, assessment of the cognitive level of the test items, evaluate how practitioners rate the relevance of the test items and the subsequent performance by candidates. The cross-sectional study adopted both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Purposive sampling of test items from five examination series conducted between 2018 and 2021 were used. Appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Results showed a highly significant association between the program type and the dimension of professional competency of the test item question (X2 (3, N = 600) = 24.567, p < .0005).Overall, majority (78%& 82%) of test items were found to be relevant both Degree and Diploma examinations (I-CVI, 0.78). Most of the Degree and Diploma test items reached a good reliability with Cronbach’s Alpha (0.873 and 0.835), while the test items on cognitive level reached an excellent Cronbach’s Alpha reliability (0.972 and 0.988), respectively. Since the Cronbach’s Alpha reliability coefficient values for the test items were above the acceptable minimum of 0.70 for most social research situations, all the test items were therefore worthy of retention.Practitioners found 96% of health sytems management and 76% of the community health test items to be relevant, unlike relatively lower percentages reported by post-interns. There was subsequent notable improvement (from 55% to 58%) in the mean scores in most Universities. Revision of COC examination policy to improve examination standards and performance, professional competence, validity, cognitive level, capacity building, best timing and collaborative development of a guiding examination blue print is recommended.Keywords: Examinations, Licensure, Validity

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Article2026

Strategic role of project management offices in execution of corporate strategies in state agencies in Kenya.

Choge James Kipruto

With escalating global competition, rapid advancement in technologies and complex operating environments, C-suite executives in public, private and multinational corporations will increasingly need to call on their PMOs to ensure that all project activities are aligned with the overall strategic vision of the organization. During the time of economic uncertainty, many of the changes in globalization and increase in adoption of e-commerce will revolve around the principles and bottom-line results that can guarantee successful implementation of corporate strategies. Today, many public organizations in Kenya are saddled with challenges that are associated with execution of corporate strategies. Critical analysis show that there has been a glaring disconnect of strategic alignment between corporate strategic objectives and the projects earmarked for achieving the desired strategic goals. Most of the projects earmarked for achieving the desired strategic goals in state agencies in Kenya are fraught with risks missed deadlines, cost overruns, quality compromises, failed strategic objectives and scope creep. The study aimed at establishing the role of project management offices in execution of corporate strategies in state agencies in Kenya and considered Communities of Practice Theory. The current study employed descriptive survey design. The study equally adopted both the qualitative and quantitative approaches to establish the associations predictor and the response variables respectively. The study focused on total target population of 204 employees in 10 state agencies in Kenya. The sample size of the study was 133 respondents from 10 state agencies. R-Squared value was used to estimate the goodness of fit of the conceptual model. The results showed a R-Squared value of 79.0% indicating adequate goodness of fit. The results of data analysis showed that project management offices have key significant effect on execution of corporate strategies. The findings of the current study will assist practitioners, stakeholders, governing bodies, and management in taking their organization's strategy execution process to the next level, they must establish PMOs to achieve desired strategic goals.

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Article2026

Effects of Adoption of Talent Brand Nurturing Strategy on the Management of Government Parastatals in Kenya

Choge James Kipruto; Jane Omwenga; Mike Iravo

A review of global good practice in countries with similar development challenges as Kenya identifies five roles for government parastatals in the national development effort. Government parastatals are important in promoting or accelerating economic growth and development and are critical to building the capability and technical capacity of the state in facilitating and/or promoting national development. The specific objective aimed at establishing the influence of adoption of talent brand nurturing strategy on management of government parastatals in Kenya. The population for this study was drawn from government parastatals with strategic functions in Kenya. Mixed method research approach and descriptive survey design were adopted in the current study. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect primary data. The study also reviewed the previous evaluation reports, strategic plans, periodicals, and taskforce reports to obtain secondary data for analysis. SPSS was used in this study to generate results for interpretation. Multiple linear regression model was used as a tool for analysis and the results generated were presented qualitatively in form of graphs and percentages and quantitatively through tables. The current study tested the null hypotheses in that talent brand nurturing strategy has no significant effect on the management of government parastatals in Kenya. The correlation analysis findings of the study showed a significant positive linkage between management of government parastatals and talent brand nurturing strategy at (rho=0.436). The study consistently found that there exist a strong interrelationship between the management and the predictor variable, talent brand nurturing strategy. The study recommends that government parastatals should adopt talent brand nurturing strategy to boost and enhance their management in order to retain the best talents and improve productivity and performance in the respective parastatals. The study aimed to help the academicians, policy makers, leaders, and managers in the government parastatals and private firms to make use of the competitive contemporary talent brand nurturing strategies to achieve desired strategic management objectives. Key Words: Human Capital, Management, Parastatal, Strategy, Strategic Management.

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Article2026

The Influence of Communication Channels on Management Practices in Kenyan Public Universities

Mamuli,L.C.; Mutsotso,S.N.; Namasaka,D.B.

This study was conducted at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology. It was guided by communication model as propounded by Shanon and Weaver (1949). This study was designed to investigate the influence of communication channels on management practices in Kenyan public universities. The study specifically investigated the types of communication channels used in the university and related the channels to the constraints faced in communicating messages in the university. Literature was reviewed in relation to the above stated objective. The study sample was drawn from MMUST and involved both academic and administrative staff. The sample size was one hundred and fifty two (152) which represents 77.6% of the target population. Stratified random sampling techniques based on the respoﾐdeﾐtsげ joH descriptions were used. The instruments for data collection involved use of questionnaires and information from secondary data materials for instance the University Act of 2007 and the employee survey findings of 2006. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The major findings revealed that MMUST had few channels of communication and that the communication policy framework was in place. However, the study identified that MMUST relies on Head of Departments, Group representatives, memos, notice boards, face to face and telephone to communicate. The study therefore, recommended that MMUST embraces new channels of communication (i.e. use of email) for efficiency purposes in addition to the already existing ones. Also, the university should adopt strategies of enhancing communication between the staff and administration. Keywords: Organization, Communication, Influence, Teaching, Research, Channel

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Article2026

A Study on Properties of (n, m)- Hyponormal Operators

Kikete, D. Wabuya; Luketero, S. Wanyonyi; Mile, J. Kitheka; Wafula, A. W. Wanyonyi

This paper looks at the properties of (n, m)- hyponormal operators. We show that for an operator A that is (n, m)- hyponormal, and it is equivalent under an isometry to an operator B, then B is also (n, m)- hyponormal. Additionally, the concept of (n, m)-unitary quasiequivalence is introduced, and it is also shown that if an operator A is (n, m)- hyponormal, and is (n, m)-unitary quasiequivalence to an operator B, then Bis also (n, m)- hyponormal.

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