Masters theses and dissertations

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A class of integral operators on the Dirichlet space of the upper half plane
(2025) Wanja Mary
Exploring integral operators and spaces of analytic functions remains a focal point for many mathematicians. While majority of the research has centered around the analytic spaces of the unit disk. There has been a growing interest in extending these studies to analytic spaces of the upper half plane. The properties of integral operators on Hardy and Bergman spaces of the upper half plane have largely been determined. However, there is still more to explore regarding the Dirichlet space of the upper half-plane. In this study, we have focused on the properties of integral operators on Dirichlet spaces of the upper half plane D(U) . Specifically, we have determined the semigroup properties of composition semigroup; constructed a class on integral operators and investigated its properties on the Dirichlet space of the upper half plane. Applying methods similar to those utilized in the related works of Agwang’ and Oyugi, we identified the semigroup properties. We have constructed a class of integral operators which is acting on the Dirichlet space of the upper half plane employing the approach of strongly continuous semigroup of composition operators on Banach spaces. By employing the spectral mapping theorems and Hille-Yosida theorem we successfully identified the spectra and the norm properties of integral operators. The findings of this research contributes meaningfully to the existing literature, providing valuable insights for pure mathematicians advancing in this area. v
INFLUENCE OF ACTIVITY BASED COSTING ON FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF SOFT DRINK MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA
(Tom Mboya University, 2025) OGALO FAITH VERONICAH
Soft drink companies face persistent challenges such as high operational costs, inaccurate product costing, and inefficiencies in resource allocation, which undermine profitability and competitiveness. Traditional costing systems often fail to accurately allocate overhead costs, resulting in misguided pricing strategies and resource mismanagement. While ABC was widely studied in developed economies, its application and influence on financial performance in Kenyan soft drink manufacturing firms remains underexplored. The main objective of this study were to establish the influence of ABC on the financial performance of these firms, focusing on factors such as resource management, activities identification, cost driver selection, and cost object determination. The study was grounded in three theories: resource-based view theory, signaling theory, and the balanced scorecard. A correlational research design was used, with a sample of 128managers selected through stratified random sampling from 68 soft drink manufacturing companies in Nairobi County. Descriptive statistics, including mean, frequency, standard deviation, and percentages, were employed to profile the sample and identify key data patterns, while multiple regression analysis examined relationships between the study variables, and correlation analysis will determine associations. The study reveals that effective resource management, including allocation, aggregation, and scheduling, significantly improves financial performance in soft drink manufacturing firms by reducing costs and maximizing profits. Activity identification within activity-based costing (ABC) systems enhances cost visibility and control, but further strengthening is needed. Proper cost driver selection, particularly in labor and machine-hours management, minimizes production costs and enhances efficiency. Cost object determination, supported by strong financial planning systems and cost apportionment, ensures operational efficiency and improves overall financial outcomes. The study recommends strengthening resource management, improving activity identification systems, optimizing cost driver management, and enhancing financial planning and cost object determination to achieve better cost control, operational efficiency, and profitability.
INFLUENCE OF COMPETITIVE STRATEGIES ON PERFORMANCE OF AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN HOMA BAY COUNTY, KENYA
(2025) NICHOLAS AYIETA ODAWO
Although the agricultural cooperative subsector was essential to Kenya's economic expansion, recent reports showed a worrying downturn in its performance, with its share of the GDP declining. Homa Bay County agricultural cooperatives still had difficulty streamlining their operations, even with large government investments in infrastructure to enhance market access and logistics. The main cause of these difficulties was the poor application of competitive strategies, which resulted in negative organizational outcomes like low profitability, dwindling membership, and lower farmer incomes.By analyzing the influence of three crucial competitive strategies, namely cost leadership, differentiation, and focus, on the performance of agricultural cooperatives, this study aimed to address these problems. The study focused on three specific objectives: first, to evaluate the cost leadership strategy on the organizational performance of agricultural cooperatives; second, to assess how differentiation strategy influenced the performance of agricultural cooperatives; and third, to analyze the influence of focus strategy on the organizational performance of agricultural cooperatives in Homa Bay County, Kenya. The region's cooperatives continued to perform poorly despite government assistance, which impeded the expansion of the agricultural industry. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of these strategies' implementation as well as their impact on overall success, operational effectiveness, and financial viability. The study used a correlational study design and a census survey sampling technique. The study employed Porter's Five Forces of Competition and the Resource-Based View theories. A total of 543 respondents, including chairpersons or directors, managers or chief executives, and cooperative officers from 181 cooperatives, completed questionnaires to provide data. Descriptive statistics (mean, median, and standard deviation) and weighted average frequency analysis using SPSS were used to examine the gathered data. The relationship between cooperative performance and competitive strategies was evaluated in this analysis. In order to improve the performance of agricultural cooperatives in Homa Bay County and support the long-term expansion of Kenya's agricultural industry, the findings provided insightful information to stakeholders, cooperative leaders, and policymakers. The study established that competitive strategic practices, including cost leadership, differentiation, and focus strategies, significantly influenced the organizational performance of agricultural cooperatives in Homa Bay County. Cost leadership, driven by cost reduction, financial controls, and farmer engagement, contributed to improved profitability, member satisfaction, and growth, although gaps in technology adoption remained a challenge.
INFLUENCE OF SELECTED SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS ON STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN RACHUONYO NORTH SUB-COUNTY, KENYA
(2025) TABITHER ANYANGO OGOLLA
Students are examined globally at the end of each level of learning cycle. The purpose of examinations is to help learners identify their careers based on performance. Students’ performance in Kenya and by extension in Rachuonyo North Sub County is still dismal; for instance in 2022, only 173,345 out of 421,748 scored C+ and above. This means that only 41.09% scored quality grades required for choosing competitive careers. The purpose of the study was to determine the extent to which quarrying, fishing, disco “matanga” and early pregnancies influence academic performance of public secondary school students in Rachuonyo North Sub County. The objectives of the study were: To determine the influence of quarrying on academic performance, to establish the influence of fishing on academic performance, to examine the influence of disco “matanga” on academic performance, to determine the influence of early pregnancies on academic performance in students of Rachuonyo North sub-county. The study was based on Walberg’s Theory of Academic Achievement (Walberg & Reynold, 1992).Research design used was descriptive survey. The target population was 1720 form four students, 50 class teachers, 25 teacher counselors, 30 teenage mothers, 25 principals, 10 quarry operators, 3 beach managers and 16 chiefs. The sample size of 325 form four students, 50 class teachers, 25 principals, 25 teacher counselors, 10 quarry operators, 3 beach managers and 16 chiefs totaling to a sample of 484 was used. Sampling procedures included simple random sampling for students and purposive sampling for teacher counselors, class teachers, beach managers, quarry operators and chiefs while teenage mothers were sampled through snowballing. The instruments for data collection were questionnaires and interview schedules. Validity of the research instruments was determined by experts in the faculty of education, while reliability of the instruments was determined using Cronbach alpha. Qualitative data was transcribed and analyzed for content in emergent themes and sub themes. Quantitative data was analyzed descriptively into frequencies, percentages, means and further inferentially into t-test. The findings were that quarrying activities influenced academic performance highly with mean rating of 3.66, fishing activities influenced academic performance with mean rating of 3.74, disco “matanga” activities influenced academic performance with mean rating of 3.69 while early pregnancy influenced academic performance with mean rating of 3.73. Conclusion to this study is that quarrying activities, fishing activities, disco “matanga” and related aspects of these activities to early pregnancy highly influence student academic performance. The interview findings from the despondence indicated that quarrying activities, fishing activities, disco matanga activities and early pregnancy related to quarrying activities, fishing activities and disco matanga activities lower the academic performance of student. This study recommended that Principals should use the information to advise teachers and parents on the best methods of handling students affected by quarrying. Labour laws should come up with policies controlling fishing activities among school going children. Chiefs should implement recommendations to bun disco “matanga” which interfere with students’ academic performance. The findings would benefit stakeholders in improving academic performance of students in remote areas, quarrying areas and along the lake basin. The findings will also inform policy formulation and implementation with regard to students’ performance.
SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE SAGES IN PRE-COLONIAL LUO SOCIETY OF HOMA-BAY COUNTY; KENYA UP TO 1895
(2025) ONYORE KEITH BRIAN
Sages were instrumental in shaping the social, economic and political dynamics of pre-colonial Luo society. This study sought to examine the contributions of sages in governance, conflict resolution, economic organization and cultural continuity within Luo society before colonial interventions. The objectives of this study were to: investigate the presence and identity of the sages among the pre-colonial Luo society up to 1895; investigate the methods and processes through which sages transmitted knowledge and skills to the younger generation up to 1895; examine the socio-economic and political roles of sages’ knowledge and wisdom among the Luo society up to 1895 and assess the influence of colonialism on the status of sages of pre-colonial society by 1895. This study is anchored on Indigenous Knowledge Theory of Paul Silitoe and Basil Davidson, Functionalism Theory of Talcott Parsons and Social Contract Theory by Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. This study adopted a qualitative research approach to explain the roles of sages in pre-colonial Luo society. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to collect oral data from informants including local leaders such as chiefs, Luo council of Elders and historians in Homabay County. Data was analyzed thematically based on content gathered and presented in narratives in a thesis. This study provides a deeper understanding of the role of sages in shaping pre-colonial Luo society. It will also contribute to cultural preservation by documenting the wisdom of Luo sages, including their economic strategies, social structures and moral teachings. The study establishes the presence and identity of the sages in premodern Luo society such as Nyakiti, Silermina, Gor Mahia and Ajwang wuon Yath winy with the unique items they possessed like, an animal remains and orindi as well as osimbo. The sages used methods such as songs, proverbs and riddles to pass information to the younger generation. Nyatiti singers of the pre-colonial time inspired singers such as Ramogi George to compose more educational songs. The study elaborated the political roles such as advising rulers and taking part in selection of new rulers among the Luo people, economic role such as advising on trading patterns and planting seasons as well as the social roles such as religion and initiation rites of the community and the effect of colonial rule to the roles of these sages. The study recommends the recognition of sages as custodians of indigenous knowledge, integration of indigenous governance models into local administration, revitalization of cultural education in schools and communities, inclusion of sages in community development planning, support for oral history and ethnographic research, and cultural tourism and economic empowerment through heritage.
THE INFLUENCE OF PHARMACEUTICAL DRUG PROCUREMENT PROCESS ON PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES IN HOMA BAY COUNTY, KENYA
(2025) MWONYA MERYL ADHIAMBO
Pharmaceutical supply chain mechanisms refer to the acquisition of essential medications in public health facilities. In the context of Kenya’s Homa Bay County, increased efficiency and effectiveness of these processes were helpful for the sustainability and reliability of healthcare performance. However, the observed frequency of stock-out incidences and compromised quality of patient care services remained relatively high. The purpose of this research was to assess the impact of pharmaceutical drug procurement on the performance of health facilities in Homa Bay County. Specific objectives were to: investigate the relationship between need identification and performance of public health facilities, Kenya; analyze the effect of requisition of drugs on performance of public hospital facilities; evaluate the effect of supplier selection on performance of public health facilities' and assess the influence of price negotiation on the performance of public health facilities in Homa Bay county. To this end, a quantitative research design was used, where data was collected through administered questionnaires from a sample of 286 respondents drawn from various public healthcare administrative staff, healthcare providers, policymakers, and patients from different healthcare facilities. Stratified random sampling was used to select a representative sample. Multivariable linear regression was used to analyze relationships. The research credibility was therefore established on the robust methods used in enhancing the validity and reliability of the study, making a significant contribution to enhancing procurement and, therefore, the delivery of healthcare. Quantitative data was described descriptively and analyzed using multivariable linear regression to examine the relationships between procurement and healthcare performance. The research analysis determined the significant causes of inefficiency in procurement, compared the effects of various tendering procedures, analyzed the sufficiency and use of budgeting in the procurement process, and established the role played by ethical practices in improving healthcare delivery. The findings indicated that need identification explained 18.3% of health facility performance (R² = 0.183, F = 13.499, p = 0.001), requisition efficiency significantly improved performance (B = 0.301, p = 0.000), supplier selection had a direct impact (R² = 0.231, F = 18.194, p = 0.000), and price negotiation factors accounted for 25% of performance variation (R² = 0.250, F = 20.118, p = 0.000). The study concluded that inefficiencies in procurement, delays in requisition, and lack of transparency in supplier selection hindered healthcare performance. It was recommended that public health facilities enhance procurement efficiency, streamline requisition processes, and adopt transparent supplier selection and negotiation practices to improve service delivery. The significance of the study lies in its potential to enhance procurement efficiency, reduce stock-out incidences, and improve healthcare service delivery in public health facilities in Homa Bay County, Kenya.