This study sought to examine the effect of interest rates on domestic private sector debt in Kenya over the 30 year period from 1990 to 2019. The dependent variable was private sector domestic debt, the independent variable was commercial bank weighted average lending rate while the control variables were annual GDP growth, extended broad money (M3) and annual USD-KES exchange rate. Using the Prais-Winstein estimator model, the regression model findings were commercial bank lending rate had an insignificant relationship with domestic debt at 95% confidence level but significant at 90% level while money supply had a negative and significant relationship with domestic debt. The study noted predominance of the banking sector in the financial sector and identified the need of a well-developed corporate debt market.

This study sought to examine the effect of debt financing on the financial performance of non-financial firms listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange in the five-year period 2013 to 2017. Using a sample of 23 listed non-financial firms data was collected from published financial statements of the sampled firms and analysed statistical using the panel data regression method. The independent variables were short-term, medium term and long-term debt while the explained variable was return on equity. Three control variables, firm size, sales growth and growth opportunities, were included and considered as having an effect on the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.  The study results observed that medium-term debt had a negative and statistical significant relationship with return on equity. Long-term debt had a positive but statistically insignificant relationship while short-term debt had a negative relationship with return on equity.