Masters Theses and Dessertations

UBVERTING PATRIARCHAL HEGEMONY IN THE AUTOBIOGRAPHIES OF WANGARI MAATHAI’S UNBOWED AND PHOEBE ASIYO’S IT IS POSSIBLE

2026-03-13T12:59:03Z

UBVERTING PATRIARCHAL HEGEMONY IN THE AUTOBIOGRAPHIES OF WANGARI MAATHAI’S UNBOWED AND PHOEBE ASIYO’S IT IS POSSIBLE NAIBEI, CHESIRO NICKSON According to the postulations of various feminists, patriarchal hegemony has continued to trample on their basic rights. Therefore, it was in this regard that this study examined how Wangari Maathai and Phoebe Asiyo had put efforts into their two autobiographical literary works, Unbowed and It is Possible, respectively, to subvert the many forms of patriarchy that were supposedly responsible for their discrimination, oppression, stereotyping, and objectification, which this study focused on. As a sub-genre, the autobiography accords the writer space to tell the story of one’s life from a more intimate perspective, especially for women writers. The specific objectives of this study were to analyze the subversion of patriarchal aspects, examine the politics of gender, and examine the constructivist nature of autobiographies and various elements of fictionality employed in the narration of Unbowed and It is Possible, respectively. The study used an eclectic theoretical framework, drawing on strands of feminist literary theory (1996) as propounded by Simone de Beauvoir and Helene Cixous, whose main tenet posits that power hierarchies in domination can be subverted and that the roles assigned to women by patriarchal society are both biased and unsustainable. This was combined with the Autobiography theory (2014) by Saint Augustine of Hippo, whose main principle of subjectivity and objectivity states that autobiographers are selective when choosing what to write. The study used a descriptive research design because of its textual nature, which entailed close reading of the selected texts, analysis, and interpretation of data. The choice of Maathai’s Unbowed and Asiyo’s It is Possible was purposive since it invalidates the normative gender distinctiveness whose establishment has a patriarchal propensity. This study established that women have been suppressed through the dictates of patriarchy as they have been patronized, objectified, stereotyped, sidelined from power, and their property disowned. It was also found that as they narrated their life experiences from an intimate perspective, they upheld the constructivist nature of autobiographies and various elements of fictionality to subvert the marginalization. The outcomes of this research develop women’s autobiographies as refined academic achievements, yield endowments, and complement gender standardization in patriarchal societies. Proportionally, the results are derivations of lessening disputes in patriarchal societies, bringing social peace where there was no peace before. This is remarkably so, as social disputes are a source of nightmares, denying the human race the serenity of existence in what is supposed to be a tranquil cosmos.

MILITARY AUTHORITARIANISM: A LITERARY EXPLORATION OF TRAUMA AND COPING STRATEGIES IN HELON HABILA’S WAITING FOR AN ANGEL AND OKEY NDIBE’S ARROWS OF RAIN

2026-03-13T12:28:33Z

MILITARY AUTHORITARIANISM: A LITERARY EXPLORATION OF TRAUMA AND COPING STRATEGIES IN HELON HABILA’S WAITING FOR AN ANGEL AND OKEY NDIBE’S ARROWS OF RAIN MASOLIA, MWANIGA DAISY Literary studies on transitioning from military dictatorship to civilian democracy have attracted global scholarly attention. These studies, however, have mainly focused on the gendered and political effects of military authoritarianism, with specific emphasis on the Great Lakes Region of Africa. Consequently, this study focused on Nigeria, where the soldiers inflicted immense psychological, emotional, and physical anguish. Unlike previous studies that predominantly examined the political implications of military dictatorship in Nigeria, this study foregrounds trauma in its multiple facets on victims and the coping strategies they adopted to survive. This study analysed Helon Habila’s Waiting for an Angel (2003) and Okey Ndibe’s Arrows of Rain (2000) to examine the traumatic effects of military authoritarianism on the victims and how they coped. The objectives of this study were to analyse the depiction of trauma as experienced by characters under military dictatorships, examine how trauma victims cope with the suffering, and analyse the effectiveness of elements of fiction in portraying trauma and coping strategies in the selected texts. The study has used the trauma literary theory as advanced by Cathy Caruth, Shoshana Felman, and Judith Herman in the 1990s, particularly their concept of fragmentation, which manifests through the psychological trauma of its victims, flashbacks, and stream-of-consciousness in narratives. A descriptive research design was used during the research process due to the textual nature of the study, which involved content analysis through close reading, analysis, and interpretation of data in the selected texts. Habila’s Waiting for an Angel and Ndibe’s Arrows of Rain were singled out purposefully as they depict a country marred by countless implications of trauma as a consequence of military dictatorships. Library research and an in-depth text analysis formed the data collection foundation. The findings of this research revealed that trauma manifests itself at the physical, emotional, and psychological levels, often destabilizing personal and collective identities. Still, victims can establish coping strategies for survival. Ultimately, the study highlights the power of literature in documenting military authoritarianism and preserving collective memory. It demonstrates that literary texts reflect the destructive effects of dictatorship and contribute to post-dictatorship healing by fostering dialogue on resilience and reconciliation. In addition, the study highlights literature’s relevance to contemporary policy makers, including governments and multinational bodies such as the African Union and United Nations, by reinforcing the urgency of deterring future military coups and promoting democratic stability globally.

SOLVENCY MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF LARGE-SCALE RETAIL SUPERMARKETS IN KENYA

2026-03-13T12:20:43Z

SOLVENCY MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF LARGE-SCALE RETAIL SUPERMARKETS IN KENYA JEFFAH, KENNETH KALONZI Solvency management remains a pivotal driver of operational continuity, profitability, and asset efficiency within the retail ecosystem. Despite established solvency frameworks, large-scale retail supermarkets in Kenya continue to face financial sustainability challenges, often resulting in operational restructuring and downsizing. This study examined the effect of solvency management on the financial sustainability of largescale retail supermarkets in Kenya. Specifically, it analyzed the impact of capital adequacy, financial leverage, asset management, and liquidity management on financial sustainability. Grounded in the Resource-Based View, Modern Portfolio, and Cash Management theories, the study adopted a cross-sectional design targeting nine leading retail supermarkets. A census approach was utilized, leveraging secondary data from audited financial statements. Analytical methods included descriptive statistics—mean, minimum, maximum, and standard deviation—and inferential analysis using correlation and random effects regression models. The Hausman test guided the model selection process, confirming the suitability of the random effects model. Empirical findings revealed that capital adequacy (β = 0.2834, p = 0.001), asset management (β = 0.2513, p < 0.001), and liquidity management (β = 0.4103, p < 0.001) exerted positive and significant effects on financial sustainability. Conversely, financial leverage demonstrated a negative and significant influence (β = -0.3244, p < 0.001). These outcomes confirm that effective solvency management substantially enhances the financial sustainability of large-scale supermarkets. The study concludes that maintaining solvency discipline is imperative for sustainable retail operations. It recommends that management consistently optimize capital-to-asset ratios, institute prudent debt ceilings to mitigate leverage risk, and enhance fixed asset utilization efficiency. By embedding these financial resilience strategies, largescale supermarkets can reinforce long-term sustainability and competitive advantage within Kenya’s evolving retail landscape.

RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF CLASSIFIED HOTELS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA

2026-03-13T12:13:32Z

RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF CLASSIFIED HOTELS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA MAYAVI, LINET SHIJEDI Risk is an immanent characteristic of all economic processes. The hotel industry in Kenya faces multiple risks and every vacant or cancelled room affects the performance of a hotel. Because of this susceptibility, there is need for hotel managers to adopt effective strategies to manage the consequences. This study determined the effect of risk management strategies on performance of classified hotels in Nairobi City County in Kenya. The specific objectives of study were: to determine the effect of risk avoidance strategies on performance of classified hotels in Nairobi City County, to evaluate the effect of risk reduction strategies on performance of classified hotels in Nairobi City County, to assess the effect of risk retention strategies on performance of classified hotels in Nairobi City County, and; to evaluate the effects of transfer management strategies on performance of classified hotels in Nairobi City County. The study was based on the resource based theory, prospect and modern portfolio theories. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design. The target population comprised of 50 classified hotels operating in Nairobi City County and as classified as at the year, 2023. The study employed a census sampling method. Both primary and secondary data were used. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires. Secondary data was obtained through document analysis from official records obtained from the hotel. The study used both descriptive and inferential statistics. Pilot study was conducted in Kisumu's 10 classified hotels since these establishments face significant challenges with low return on investments. The study results indicated that risk management strategies explains 62.7% of variations on organizational performance of classified hotels in Nairobi City County. The regression results of the study: indicated that risk avoidance strategies had a positive and statistically significant effect on organizational performance of classified hotels. This is supported by regression coefficient of 0.558 and p-value 0.001. Risk reduction strategies was found to have a positive and statistically significant effect on organizational performance of classified hotels. This is supported by regression coefficient of 0.687 and p-value 0.021. Risk retention strategies was found to have a positive and statistically significant effect on organizational performance of classified hotels. This is supported by regression coefficient of 0.792 and p-value 0.001. Finally, risk transfer strategies were found to have a positive and statistically significant effect on organizational performance of classified hotels. This is supported by regression coefficient of 0.459 and p-value 0.000. The study, is geared towards equipping classified hotel’s management on choice of risk management strategies. The study may also inform the development of effective risk frameworks to enable hotels identify and mitigate potential risks before they escalate into larger problems. The study makes appropriate contribution to the hospitality industry by proposing the best suited risk management strategies on performance in hotels in Kenya, regionally and globally. Further, the study serves as a reference for future researchers and scholars in strategic management.