In Kenya, the last few years has seen the performance of companies listed under the commercial and services segment on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), experience mixed fortunes. The study sought to assess the implications of financial risk on the performance of these companies. The study applied explanatory research design. The target population were the 14 companies listed under this segment of NSE. Secondary panel data contained in published annual reports for the period 2013–2017 was collected. Panel regression model was applied with the random effect model being used based on the Hausman specification test. Findings showed that credit risk had an insignificant positive effect on return on equity (ROE) while liquidity risk had a significantly negative effect on ROE and operational risk had a positive insignificant effect on ROE. The positive coefficients from the data analysis indicated that commercial and service companies at NSE were able to take in more credit to boost performance of these companies however the negative coefficients shows that within the period of study these companies experienced high liquidity problems in that the current liabilities exceeded the current assets. Thus, concluding that these companies were unable to pay all their obligation when they were due.

This paper provides an empirical analysis of the synergies and trade-offs between financial inclusion and credit risk of commercial banks in Kenya. The paper analyzed the effect of financial inclusion on credit risk and the mediation effect of bank competitiveness of commercial banks in Kenya. Financial inclusion was measured using three dimensions of bank availability, bank accessibility and bank usage, bank competitiveness used (HHI) while credit risk was represented by the non performing loans ratio. The study was anchored on financial intermediation theory supported by finance growth theory and asymmetry information theory. The target population was all the 43 commercial banks in Kenya. The study used secondary data collected from Central Bank of Kenya annual reports; commercial banks of Kenya published audited financial statements and annual data from Central Bureau of statistics of Kenya for the period of 2007-2015. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and panel multiple regression analysis. The results obtained found that bank availability, bank accessibility and bank usage had significant effect on credit risk of commercial banks in Kenya. Bank competitiveness was found to partially mediate the relationship between financial inclusion and credit risk. From the findings the study concluded that financial inclusion has a significant effect on stability of commercial banks in Kenya. The study recommends that commercial banks to formulate policies to ensure they remain stable and competitive while accommodating their activities to ensure financial inclusion, hence forming an all inclusive and stable financial sector over time.

This paper provides an empirical analysis of the synergies and trade-offs between financial inclusion and credit risk of commercial banks in Kenya. The paper analyzed the effect of financial inclusion on credit risk and the moderation effect of GDP on commercial banks in Kenya. Financial inclusion was measured using three dimensions of bank availability, bank accessibility and bank usage, while credit risk was represented by the non performing loans ratio. The study was anchored on financial intermediation theory supported by finance growth theory and asymmetry information theory. The target population was all the 43 commercial banks in Kenya. The study used secondary data collected from Central Bank of Kenya annual reports; commercial banks of Kenya published audited financial statements and annual data from Central Bureau of statistics of Kenya for the period between 2007-2015. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and panel multiple regression analysis. The results obtained found that bank availability, bank accessibility and bank usage had significant effect on credit risk of commercial banks in Kenya. GDP growth rate was found to partially moderate the relationship between financial inclusion and credit risk. From the findings the study concluded that financial inclusion has a significant effect on credit risk of commercial banks in Kenya. The study also recommended that commercial banks in Kenya to negotiate with Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance to put policies which support favorable macroeconomic variables especially GDP which influences the level of financial inclusion and bank credit risk.

The study sought to assess the financial performance of the companies listed in the commercial and services sector at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), Kenya with an aim of determining the implications of firm size and operational risk on their performance. It was anchored on the agency theory. The study applied explanatory research design and the target population was the 14 companies listed under this sector. Secondary panel data contained in published annual reports for the year 2013 to 2017 was collected. A panel regression model was applied with the random effect model being used based on the Hausman specification test. Findings showed that operational risk had a positive insignificant effect on performance as proxied by return on assets (ROA). The findings further showed that firm size had a moderating effect on the relationship between operational risks and performance. It concluded that firm size played a role in the risk management of a company i.e. companies with higher total assets managed risk better than their counterpart. The study recommends that for companies to record improved financial performance, they needed to manage their operational risks by implementing risk management initiatives and increasing their total assets base.

The study sought to assess the influence of audit committee characteristics on the quality of financial reporting in state corporations in Kenya. Audit committees are created with a sole purpose of affirming the trust towards the company’ integrity in the hearts of the stakeholders in regard to the internal procedures; the exercise by the committee gives the stakeholders’ confidence in matters oversight assigned to the committee. Specifically, the study sought to examine the effect of audit committee expertise and audit committee independence on quality of financial reporting among state corporations in Kenya. An explanatory research design was employed to attain the study's purpose. The study's target population was the 187 government-owned enterprises in Kenya. A sample of 127 firms was selected using a stratified random sampling. A structured questionnaire was utilized to collect data. The data was analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics using the SPSS software. The findings from the study revealed that audit committee expertise has a significant influence on the quality of financial reporting in state corporations. The findings further revealed that the independence of the audit committee had a significant and positive influence on the quality of financial reporting in state corporations in Kenya. The study concluded that through the independence, and expertise of the audit committees, state corporations in Kenya had better quality of the financial reporting. It is therefore recommended that the government through the respective agencies upholds the independence and expertise of the audit committees in order to enhance their ability to deliver appropriate quality of the financial reporting in the corporations.

This paper empirically analyzes the effect of secondary equity offer announcements on share returns at Nairobi Securities Exchange in Kenya by investigating the information content of the announcements and ascertaining whether the release of financial information in the capital market affects share returns. An event study employing the market return model determined share returns of 52 bonus issues and 28 rights issues announced between January 2006 and December 2015. The study established that secondary equity offer announcements had a significant and positive effect on share returns and that rights issues witnessed higher share returns when compared to bonus issues during the twenty-day event period. This study recommends management of Nairobi Securities Exchange listed companies to raise capital through secondary equity offers, as companies will increase their market capitalization. Investors on Nairobi Securities Exchange are encouraged to participate in secondary equity offers because they will earn positive share returns and increase their wealth. Existing shareholders should fully participate in rights issues because they will forgo positive share returns if they renounce their rights. Capital Markets Authority and Nairobi Securities Exchange should encourage more listed companies to raise capital through secondary equity offers, as this is advantageous to companies and investors.