Browsing by Author "Ondabu, Ibrahim T."

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6

Board Structure and Financial Distress: Insights from NSE-listed Non- Financial Firms
(International Academic Journal of Economics and Finance, 2025) Oyaro, John; Ondabu, Ibrahim T.; Oluoch, Oluoch; Memba, Florence
Financial distress has been a major concern for managers, practitioners and scholars globally. For a long time, companies have faced financial distress worldwide. In the recent past companies such as Wirecard in Germany, Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in United States as well as Signa Holding in Austria have collapsed. The phenomenon is the same in Kenya with companies such as Eveready East Africa, Karuturi Ltd, Mumias Sugar Company, Nakumatt Holdings and Uchumi Supermarkets having collapsed. Others such as Kenya airways have experienced financial distress. This situation creates Panic among the existing investors and may finally erode investor’s confidence and may result in loss of huge sums invested in the capital markets. As a result, there is need to tame the situation before investors lose confidence in the market. The focus of this study was to determine the effect of board structure on financial distress of non financial firms listed on the NSE. This study applied the Z-score for emerging economies to test financial distress. The study was anchored on institutional theory. The study applied positivistic philosophical foundation. The research design applied was cross-sectional research design. The population comprised of 46 non-financial listed firms as at December 2023. A census of all the firms was conducted. The study utilised secondary data that was extracted from published financial statements and other annual reports of the respective individual firms for a period of ten years from 2014 to 2023. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. Univariate logistic regression analysis and Pearson's correlation analysis were used. Tables and graphs were used to present the findings. Results showed that a significant negative correlation exist between financial distress and board structure (r = -0.771; p=0.000). Regression analysis results showed that there is a strong negative relationship between board structure and financial distress. The descriptive statistical analysis revealed that, on average, 90.97% of board members are non-executive directors. However, the unilabiate analysis revealed that board structure accounts for 31.2% to 41.2% of the variance in financial distress among listed firms. Consequently, this study revealed that for every one-unit improvement in board structure, the odds of financial distress decreases by approximately 36.4%, as shown by the odds ratio (Exp(B)= 0.636). The study thus recommends that non-financial listed firms must endeavour to have well-structured and diverse boards in terms of independence, gender and board size.
Digital Banking Services and Investment Decisions of Female-Owned Small and Medium Enterprises in Nairobi City County
(International Journal of Business Management and Economic Research, 2026) Nyangenya, Mercy N.; Ondabu, Ibrahim T.
This study investigates how digital credit, digital savings, insurance technology (insurtech), and robo-advisory services affect the investment decisions of women-owned small and medium enterprises (SMES) in Nairobi City County. An explanatory research design was employed, using primary data collected through structured questionnaires. The study targeted a population of 39,440, from whom a sample of 396 respondents was drawn using the Yamane formula and using simple random sampling technique. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 29, with multiple regression analysis applied to test the hypotheses. The results revealed that insurtech services exert the greatest influence on investment decisions among female SME owners by offering accessible and affordable risk management options that boost business confidence and encourage growth-oriented investments. Additionally, robo-advisory services significantly improve investment decision quality by providing personalized, data-driven, and cost-efficient financial guidance. The study concludes that the adoption and effective use of digital banking services significantly enhance investment behavior and business performance among female owned SMEs. Consequently, improving access, affordability, and awareness of these services is vital for promoting sustainable investment growth and empowering women entrepreneurs in Nairobi City County.
Does Executive Compensation Structure Contribute to Financial Distress? Lessons from NSE-listed Non-Financial Firms
(International Academic Journal of Economics and Finance, 2025) Oyaro, John; Memba, Florence; Oluoch, Oluoch; Ondabu, Ibrahim T.
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of executive compensation structure on the financial distress of Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed non-financial firms. The study was anchored on the agency theory. A census of all 45 non financial listed firms at the NSE was carried out using the cross-sectional research design. Secondary data extracted from published financial statements and other annual reports of the respective individual firms for a period of ten years from 2014 to 2023 was employed. In the study the Z score for emerging economies was used to determine financial distress. Executive compensation structure was measured using the proportion of earnings before interest and tax that was distributed to board of directors. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in data analysis. Descriptive statistics included mean score and standard deviation. Inferential analysis was conducted via univariate logistic regression analysis and Pearson's correlation analysis. The study determined that a significant negative correlation exist between executive compensation structure and financial INTRODUCTION distress (r = -0.811: p=0.000). The study also determined that there exists a strong negative relationship between executive compensation structure and financial distress (β= -0.729: p=0.000). 34.1% to 45.5% variations in financial distress of non-financial listed firms explained by executive compensation structure. Consequently, this study established that for every one-unit improvement in executive compensation, the odds of financial distress decreases by 51.7%. The study therefore concluded that executive compensation structure as a significant negative effect on financial distress implying that an increase in executive compensation may lead the firm into financial distress. The study thus recommends that organisations should design an optimum executive compensation structure which aligns the interests of the management with those of the owners of firms thereby minimizing not only agency conflicts but also agency costs which firms may incur.
Financial Reporting Quality Among Deposit Taking Saccos: What Unties the Ties
(Journal of Business Management, 2023) Kinyenze, Jonathan M; Ondabu, Ibrahim T.
This study advances to describe the causality of financial reporting quality among the deposit taking Saccos in Kenya by determining whether staff capacity, top management expertise, enterprise resource planning and the quality of internal audit unties the ties of the quality of financial reports. Through descriptive design and primary data of the one hundred and twenty-six respondents of the forty-two-deposit taking Saccos (DT Saccos) in Kenya, the establishes that top management expertise, enterprise resource planning (ERP) and quality of internal audit had a strong positive significant influence on the quality of financial reporting while staff capacity had also a positive influence but which was weak in terms of the strength.
Intervening Influence of Financial Development on the Relationship Between Sustainability Practices and Sustainable Development of the Sub-Saharan African Countries
(Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 2026) Mbugua, James C. N.; Ondabu, Ibrahim T.; Sporta, Fred O.
The objective of this paper was to explore how financial development affects the relationship between sustainability practices and sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa, where poor institutional quality and shallow financial markets may prevent sustainability gains from translating into measurable improvements in human development, poverty reduction, and environmental outcomes. Both descriptive and explanatory components were included in the study, which employed a longitudinal panel design. Using a positivist, longitudinal panel design, this study analyzes data from 49 Sub-Saharan African countries (2000–2023) sourced from the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, and Sustainable Development Reports. Data analysis was done using regression models and descriptive analysis. The findings show that financial development does not serve as an effective transmission channel through which sustainability practices impact the achievement of sustainable development. The research concluded that policy interventions should include developing sustainable banking regulations, creating green finance incentives, establishing sustainability-linked lending criteria, and strengthening financial inclusion policies that target sustainable development sectors.
Investing for More than Just Money: The Non-Utilitarian Benefits of Investments
(International Journal of Economic Policy, 2023) Gatabi, Gitonga C.; Muema, Michael M.; Oreko, Nyakoi G.; Ondabu, Ibrahim T.
Purpose: This article aimed to identify the psychological, social, environmental and ethical benefits of investments. Methodology: A total of 82 articles that were initially picked for this study, 30 articles were however selected and critically scrutinized to yield this review article. Findings: The review findings reveal that investments can have a significant impact on investors' well-being and highlight the importance of considering these benefits in investment decision-making processes. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: One limitation of the existing studies is that they are often based on self-reported data, which may be subject to bias or social desirability effects. This research describes new paradigms to the additional benefits of investments, in addition to the famous monetary gains such as the psychological, social, environmental and ethical benefits. Understanding these trade-offs can help investors make more informed decisions about their investment strategies.