The study sought to determine the influence of human resource planning on firm performance of firms listed in the Nairobi Securities Exchange in Kenya. The study was anchored on human capital theory and shareholder value maximization theory. The research design used was a cross-sectional survey while the study population constituted all the 68 listed firms at the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) as in May 2017. The target population included the head of human resources and finance directors in all the listed firms. The sample size comprised of 136 respondents, and data was collected through structured questionnaires to meet the objectives of the study. Responses were tabulated, coded, and processed by the use of a computer Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) to analyze the data. Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used to analyze the data. To test hypotheses, a simple linear model was used to test significance between the independent and dependent variable. The study findings revealed that the relationship between human resource planning and firm performance was positive and statistically significant and hence rejected the null hypothesis. The study concluded that the type and strategy of the firm, succession planning, matching skills with jobs and skills inventory are human resource planning indicators influencing the performance of firms listed in the NSE. It is therefore recommended that firms should continue to practice and maintain adequate human resource planning as it plays a fundamental role in achieving the objectives of the organizations.

The study sought to determine the influence of career management on firm performance at the firms which are listed in the Nairobi Securities Exchange. The study was anchored on resource based view theory and shareholder value maximization theory. The research design used was a cross-sectional survey, target population included the head of human resources and finance directors in all the listed firms since they were better placed and conversant with the subject of this study and were involved in the development of the policies and review of performance. Sample size comprised of 136 respondents and data was collected through structured questionnaires to meet the objectives of the study. Responses were tabulated, coded and processed by use of a computer Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) to analyze the data. Both descriptive and inferential statistics techniques were used to analyze the data. Findings revealed that the relationship between career management and firm performance was positive and statistically significant. The study concluded that career development and planning, career mentors/ counseling, career centres and firms planning for employee growth and progression are key career management determinants for the performance of firms listed in the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) and recommended that career management practices should be widely adopted by NSE listed firms as doing so would lead to improved performance

In many developing countries, Public Financial Management Reforms (PFMRs) have been considered an instrumental element of governance with the intent to curb wasteful expenditure and corruption. Before making any budgetary or financial decision, leaders are expected to make objective analysis of theavailable financial data and to take into consideration all available options from their subordinatesbefore deciding on a way forward. This is what defines balanced processing. The aim of this paper wastherefore to evaluate how leader’s balanced processing influence the commitment of employees inagencies implementing Public Financial Management Reforms (PFMRs) in Kenya. The study was guided by the positivism research philosophy and applied a descriptive correlational research design inconducting the study. This design is deemed relevant particularly as it reveals accurate informationallowing for inferences through hypothesis testing. This approach was favored because it explains what is in existence and, in turn, assists in revealing new realities and meanings, thus broadening the scope of the phenomenon under study. The study targeted 747 managers from the Kenyan PFMR implementing agencies from which a sample of 260 managers was obtained through simple random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection with analyses being done and presented using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The Binary logit regression model depicted a significant association between the variables with Chi-square χ² (1) = 139.881, p<.001, and the model summary result showed the Nagelkerke R square of .731 (equivalent to R 2 on the linear regression model) hence accepting the alternative hypothesis, which stated that leaders' balanced processing significantly influenced employee commitment among managers in agencies implementing PFMRs. In its recommendation, this study guides that leaders should listen carefully to ideas from every employee fairly and understand that different employees work differently. Some ideas can be implemented to improve the organization, and some can be implemented later; therefore, it effectively attracts employees in decisionmaking and enhances employee commitment.

This paper addresses the influence of leader’s self-awareness on employee commitment in agencies implementing Public Financial Management Reforms (PFMRs) in Kenya. Methodically, the study was guided by the positivism research philosophy. The study applied descriptive correlational research design because it reveals accurate information that allows for inferences through hypothesis testing. This approach was favored because it explains what is in existence and, in turn, assists in revealing new realities and meanings, thus broadening the scope of the phenomenon under study. The population of the study was 747 managers from the Kenyan PFMRs implementing agencies. Simple random sampling technique was adopted to select 260 managers for the study. Primary data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses methods were employed. The Binary logit regression model was significant with Chi-square χ² (1) = 133.239, p<.001, and the model summary result shows the Nagelkerke R square of .731. The study accepted the alternative hypothesis, which stated that leaders' self-awareness significantly influenced employee commitment among managers in agencies implementing PFMRs. From the empirical evidence and conclusion, the study recommends that leaders must understand themselves, recognize their strengths and flaws, and confidently convey them. By so doing, they will transfer confidence to the staff, leading to their dedication.

Research objective: The main objective of the study was to explore drug and substance abuse among university students. Specifically, the study sought to investigate factors influencing drug and substance abuse and find out the effect of drug and substance abuse on university students.Methods: The study adopted mixed method approach. Triangulation was used in data collection both questionnaires and focus group discussions were used to collect data. Multistage sampling was used to get representation from all the five schools within the university. In each school, cluster sampling was while at programme level, simple random sampling was used. Snowball sampling technique was be used to identify the drug and substance abusers who were now targeted for interviews in focus group discussions. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was analyzed using common theming method.Results: The study established three factors which influence drug and substance abuse among university students. The factors in order of significance are peer pressure, student residence and family background of the students. In terms of influence of drugs and substances, they impair student judgement, affect quality of sleep, and lowers the performance of students both in class and outside class.Conclusions and Recommendations:The study concluded that the social groupings which generate peer pressure, the type of accommodation for the students and family influence on students need to be considered in student mentoring to effectively manage the menace of drug and substance abuse. The study recommends a turn round strategy by the university in dealing with drug and substance abuse menace to improve performance retention and completion rates.