http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/1282 SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, SCHOOL OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP, PROCUREMENT AND MANAGEMENT,SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, 2026-10-06T20:15:40Z http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/7130 orporate Governance, Social Capital and Competitive Advantage of Commercial Banks in Kenya Chepkech, Noah Kipkurui Competitive advantage is the unique combination of elements within the business model which enables a firm to better satisfyitheineedsiiniits environment, earning economic rents in the process. Few commercial banks in Kenya especially tier one banks have gained competitive advantage compared to their peers in tier 2 and tier 3. Some tire 2 and 3 banks have experienced sudden unexpected systemic collapse with a number of mergers and buyoff ensuing. Some studies have attributed the cause of failure of banks to violation of banking laws, poor corporate governance and deteriorating cash reserves. Studies done on the effect of corporate governance and competitive advantage have shown varying contradictory findings. This study postulates that social capital could be playing a mediating role on the nexus between corporate governance and competitive advantage hence this study was expected to give conclusive results. The study used board diversity, CEO’s attributes, board independence and board committees as the independent variables; competitive advantage as dependent variable and social capital as the mediating variable. The study was guided by stewardship theory, agency theory, resource-dependency theory and stakeholder theory. The research adopted descriptive and correlational research designs. Target population comprised the 42 commercial banks operating in Kenya while the respondents were 294 senior officers who included a corporate affairs manager, a risk compliance officer, an internal auditor, a legal counsel and three board members from each bank. The research approach was census survey of all banks in Kenya. Questionnaire was the data collection tool. Pilot test was performed to ascertain the questionnaire quality. Reliability was confirmed using Cronbach alpha with a coefficient of 0.7 and above being used as a benchmark for approving the reliability of the research instrument. SPSS software was used in data analysis. Data analysis involved a combination of descriptive and inferential statistics. Multiple regression analysis as well as Pearson product moment correlation analysis was utilized to test the nexus betweenitheiindependent variables and the dependent variable. The variables were regressed using 5%isignificanceilevel to find out the strengthiofithe variables andidirectioniof their relationship. Study results indicated statistically significant regression results between board diversity (t=9.155; p=0.000), CEO attributes (t=5.745; p=0.000), board independence (t=3.287; p=0.000), board committees (t=3.304; p=0.000) and competitive advantage. The results of multiple regression analysis using Hayes (2017) PROCESS Macro version 3.4 (Model 4) found that corporate governance had a significant direct effect on competitive advantage with β = .531, p =.000. The total effect using the data without outliers, (direct + indirect effect) = 0.531 + 0.198= 0.729 implying that the two paths contribute to the total effect, hence giving rise to a partial mediation (F (5,221) = 161.687, p =.000). The study found the mean indirect effect as positive and significant from the data M5 = a5×b5 =.610× 0.324 = .198, SE =.038, 95% CI= [.126,.277] and confidence intervals for the indirect effect does not straddle a zero in between, which supports the presence of mediation effect. The study therefore concludes that social capital has a significant mediating effect on the relationship between corporate governance and competitive advantage of commercial banks in Kenya. Therefore, the study recommends that banks need to embrace both corporate governance and social capital simultaneously to achieve better competitive advantage. Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration (Strategic Management) 2026-09-28T00:00:00Z http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/7128 Project Management Information System Practices and Performance of Roads Construction Projects in Kenya Samo, Tawfiq Bashir Road construction projects in Kenya face significant cost overruns of 45 percent, delays averaging 21 months, and quality issues, and despite PMIS adoption, overall project performance remains unsatisfactory. Therefore, the general objective of the study was to investigate the influence of project management information system practices on the performance of roads construction projects in Kenya and the moderating effect of project monitoring. The study was anchored on resource based view theory, innovation diffusion theory, theory of constraints, general system theory and theory of change. The study adopted a positivist research philosophy, cross-sectional survey design and explanatory research design. The target population was 262 contractors, 262 resident engineers, 262 quantity surveyors, 54 Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) officials, 45 Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) officials, and 42 Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) officials working in the headquarters. The sample size was 279 respondents selected by use of stratified random sampling. The study used both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected by use of a structured questionnaire, which generated both quantitative and qualitative data. Thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in analyzing quantitative data. Diagnostic tests were conducted to assess the assumptions of the regression model. The study found that resource management practices, data integration practices, cost management practices, project planning practices have a positive and significant effect on the performance of road construction projects. In addition, project monitoring had a moderating effect on the relationship between project management information system practices and performance of road construction projects. The study recommends that road agencies implement comprehensive financial management, promote knowledge-sharing, establish real-time expenditure monitoring, and adopt a formal change management process for scope adjustments. Policymakers should enforce resource management standards and strengthen monitoring to improve efficiency and performance in Kenyan road construction projects. Doctor of Philosophy in Project Management 2026-09-28T00:00:00Z http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/7125 Supply Chain Traceability and Performance of Horticultural Firms in Kenya Kingoto, Boniface Muli This study examined the relationship between supply chain traceability and the performance of horticultural firms in Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to determine the effects of raw material tracking traceability, product tracking traceability, distribution tracking traceability, and consumer tracking traceability on the performance of horticultural firms in Kenya. In addition, the study assessed the moderating effect of the horticultural legal framework on the relationship between supply chain traceability and firm performance. The study was anchored on relevant theories and models that informed the study variables and hypotheses. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted. The unit of analysis comprised 658 registered horticultural firms in Kenya, while the target population consisted of 2,632 respondents drawn from the heads of procurement, production, administration, and finance departments, with four respondents selected from each firm. Sampling was done on the 2632 respondents working in the 658 registered horticultural firms in Kenya. The sample size of 256 respondents was determined using Slovin's formula, and respondents were selected through stratified random sampling. The study utilized both primary and secondary data. Secondary data were obtained from the annual reports of horticultural firms, while primary data were collected using structured and semi-structured questionnaires. A pilot study involving 10% of the sample was conducted to assess the validity and reliability of the research instruments. The semi-structured questionnaires generated both qualitative and quantitative data. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis, and the findings were presented narratively. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28. Descriptive statistics included frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, while inferential statistics comprised correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis, and stepwise regression analysis. The findings of the study are presented using tables, figures, and histograms. The findings revealed that product tracking traceability has a positive and statistically significant effect on the performance of horticultural firms in Kenya. Similarly, raw material tracking traceability, distribution tracking traceability, and consumer tracking traceability were found to have positive and statistically significant effects on firm performance. Furthermore, the study established that the horticultural legal framework significantly moderates the relationship between supply chain traceability and the performance of horticultural firms in Kenya. The study concludes that strengthening supply chain traceability across raw material sourcing, production, distribution, and consumer engagement enhances operational efficiency, product quality, and customer satisfaction, thereby improving firm performance. Accordingly, the study recommends that horticultural firms invest in comprehensive traceability systems and align their operations with the prevailing horticultural legal framework to maximize performance. Doctor of Philosophy in Supply Chain Management 2026-09-28T00:00:00Z http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/7124 Accounting Discretion, Audit Quality and Earnings Predictability of Listed Firms in Kenya Ndungu, Beatrice Wanjiru For earnings information to be considered relevant, it must demonstrate both predictive value and confirmatory value. Investors and other users of financial statements rely on the extent to which reported earnings can effectively forecast future firm performance. In Kenya, despite listed firms occasionally posting positive EPS, the NSE 20 Share Index has experienced sharp decline dropping from an all-time high of Ksh 6,161.46 billion in January 2007 with lowest numbers recorded between 2016 and 2020. We investigate whether discretionary accounting practices enhance or diminish the predictability of earnings for listed firms in Kenya. The research is anchored on the efficient contracting theory, information signaling theory, the efficient market hypothesis and agency theory, it conceptualizes on four key measures of accounting discretion: cost classification shifting, fair value accounting estimates, voluntary disclosures, and accruals earnings management. Empirical literature reviewed identifies audit quality as a moderating variable that mitigates the effects of accounting discretion. An unbalanced panel dataset comprising 650 firm-year observations was utilized, reflecting variations in data availability across the 13-year period between 2010 and 2022. The empirical analysis employed descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression models, followed by moderated regression analysis to assess interaction effects. Descriptive statistics revealed notable heterogeneity across firms, with variables exhibiting both positive and negative skewness and kurtosis, indicating non-normal distributions and the presence of extreme values. This supported the use of robust estimation techniques. Pearson correlation results indicated that earnings predictability had a significant negative association with cost classification shifting and fair value accounting estimates, while being positively and significantly correlated with audit quality. Simple linear regression results showed that cost classification shifting significantly reduced earnings predictability, while fair value accounting estimates had the strongest negative impact. Accruals earnings management exhibited a positive effect on earnings predictability, whereas voluntary disclosures had no statistically significant effect. The overall multiple regression model, incorporating all four measures of accounting discretion, explained 49.0% of the variation in earnings predictability. Within this model, fair value accounting estimates and cost classification shifting retained their negative effects, while accruals earnings management maintained a positive influence. Voluntary disclosures remained statistically insignificant. Moderated regression analysis revealed that audit quality significantly enhanced the positive impact of accruals earnings management on earnings predictability and reduced the adverse effect of fair value accounting estimates. The moderated model explained 56.3% of the variance in earnings predictability, indicating strong explanatory power. The findings suggest that certain forms of accounting discretion, particularly fair value measurements and classification shifting, undermine earnings predictability, potentially due to their reliance on subjective estimates and opportunities for opportunistic financial reporting. In contrast, accrual-based discretion can enhance predictive accuracy, particularly when subject to high-quality external audit oversight. The study makes several contributions: empirically, it provides evidence from an African emerging market context, where financial reporting environments differ significantly from developed economies; methodologically, it validates the use of unbalanced panel data in corporate finance research; and practically, it offers policy insights for regulators, investors, and corporate boards. Key recommendations include enhancing IFRS compliance, improving cost allocation transparency, mandating higher audit quality standards, and implementing targeted training for preparers of financial statements. Doctor of Philosophy in Accounting 2026-09-28T00:00:00Z