Theses and Dissertations
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Item Financial services accessibility, financial literacy, and investment in livestock farming among pastoralist households in Kenya(KCA University, 2025) Hassan, Mohamed A.This study examined the effect of financial services accessibility on livestock investment decisions among pastoralist households in Kenya. The specific objectives were to assess the effect of credit facilities, mobile banking adoption, financial literacy, and access to savings platforms on livestock investment decisions, and to evaluate whether cultural attitudes moderate these relationships. The study was guided by three theoretical frameworks. The Theory of Planned Behavior was used to explain how attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms influence financial decision-making. The Financial Intermediation Theory provided a basis for understanding how financial institutions help mobilize resources and reduce transaction costs. The Technology Acceptance Model was applied to explain how perceived usefulness and ease of use affect the adoption of mobile banking services among pastoralist communities. The study adopted a descriptive and inferential research design. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 400 respondents from eight counties, and 303 valid responses were analyzed. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression. The regression model produced an R-squared value of 0.589, showing that 58.9 percent of the variation in livestock investment decisions was explained by the four financial predictors. Financial literacy had the strongest positive effect on investment in livestock farming (β = 0.692, p < 0.001). Mobile banking adoption (β = 0.583, p < 0.001), access to savings platforms (β = 0.468, p < 0.001), and credit availability (β = 0.169, p < 0.05) also showed statistically significant influence. Cultural attitudes, tested as a moderating variable, did not produce significant interaction effects, indicating that investment behavior is mainly influenced by financial access and capability rather than cultural beliefs. The study concludes that financial services, especially those that improve literacy, digital access, and savings options, play an important role in supporting livestock investment and improving household economic stability. It recommends that policymakers develop financial education programs suited to pastoralist communities, expand mobile banking infrastructure in remote areas, and create flexible credit products that consider informal income patterns and lack of collateral. Financial institutions should work with community-based groups to design savings mechanisms that are culturally appropriate, while development agencies should help link informal savings groups to formal financial systems. These findings provide evidence that targeted financial interventions can improve investment behavior and strengthen livelihoods among pastoralist households. Future research should consider using longitudinal designs and mixed methods to explore changes in financial behavior over time and to better understand the role of cultural factors in investment decisions.Item Impact of financial wellness on mental well-being among urban families: a case study of Kiambu township, Kenya(KCA University, 2025) Wokabi, Joseph N.This study examined the association between financial wellness and mental well-being among urban households in Kiambu Township, Kenya. Financial instability has increasingly emerged as a significant factor contributing to psychological distress, driven by the high cost of living, urbanization, inflation, and economic uncertainty. The study aimed to determine the level of financial wellness, identify major financial stressors influencing mental health, assess the mental well-being of urban families, and explore the coping strategies they employ to manage financial pressures. Guided by the Family Stress Theory and the Conservation of Resources Theory, the study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design targeting 392 households, of which 348 responded, representing an 88.8% response rate. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics, including Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that mental well-being had a significant negative relationship with financial wellness (r = -0.466, p < 0.01). This means that better financial management and stability are associated with lower emotional distress. Additionally, mental well-being was positively correlated with financial stressors (r = 0.756, p < 0.01), with the strongest predictive effect (b = 0.693, p = 0.001). This indicates that greater financial struggles, such as debt, income volatility, or unexpected costs, lead to worse psychological outcomes. The results also showed that coping strategies are positively and significantly related to both financial stressors (r = 0.423, p < 0.01) and mental well-being (r = 0.484, p < 0.01). This suggests that households experiencing higher financial stress tend to engage more frequently in coping strategies, which also increase in intensity with greater perceived psychological strain. Coping strategies, including expenditure control, borrowing, prayer, and family discussions, were found to play a moderating role, helping families adapt to financial strain, though they were largely reactive in nature. The study concludes that financial stability and psychological health are closely interconnected, with financial strain remaining one of the strongest predictors of emotional distress among urban families. It recommends promoting financial literacy, enhancing access to affordable credit, and integrating financial counseling with mental health support programs to strengthen resilience and overall well-being. The findings contribute valuable evidence for policymakers, financial institutions, and community organizations in designing interventions that address both the economic and psychological dimensions of urban family life in Kenya, particularly in the unique context of Kiambu Township.Item Digital credit, financial literacy and financial stability of micro, small and medium enterprises in Kenya’s retail sector(KCA University, 2025) Mose, Elias R.The emergence of digital lending platforms has revolutionized credit accessibility for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), particularly in developing economies like Kenya. While these platforms have enhanced financial inclusion by offering convenient and collateral-free credit, concerns have been raised about their implications on the long-term financial stability of MSMEs. This study sought to examine the effect of digital credit on the financial stability of MSMEs in Kenya’s retail sector, with Nairobi and Machakos counties as the focus areas. The study investigated three core dimensions of digital lending, credit accessibility, credit terms, and borrowing behaviour, while considering financial literacy as a moderating variable. The study was underpinned by Financial Intermediation Theory, Behavioral Economics Theory, Debt Spiral Theory, and the Resource-Based View Theory. It adopted a cross-sectional research design and targets a population of 133,000 registered MSMEs in Nairobi and Machakos Counties. A sample of 398 MSME respondents were selected using stratified random sampling, ensuring equitable representation across urban and peri-urban zones and various retail sub-sectors. Primary data was collected through semi-structured questionnaires, which captured both quantitative and qualitative responses. The study applied descriptive statistics for data summarization, and multiple regression analysis to test the direct effects of the independent variables on financial stability. In addition, moderated regression analysis was conducted to determine the influence of financial literacy on the relationship between digital lending and MSME financial stability. It recommends planned borrowing strategies for MSMEs, flexible and transparent lending terms from providers, and policies that integrate financial literacy training with responsible lending practices. The findings offered critical insights for policymakers, financial institutions, and MSME owners, helping to inform more responsible digital lending practices, improve borrower financial literacy, and foster sustainable business growth. Furthermore, the study contributed to the expanding academic discourse on digital finance and enterprise resilience in emerging markets.