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.

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.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the County of Garissa have had a dwindling net profit between 2007 until 2013. Success has been marked by several hurdles that include improper business records, substandard technical competence, illiteracy in matters of finance, and mismanagement of working capital. As a result, the overarching purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of working capital management on the financial performance of SMEs in the Kenyan county of Garissa. The study was motivated by the following specific goals: To assess the impact of inventory management techniques on the financial performance of SMEs, to assess the impact of cash management practices on the financial performance of SMEs, to assess the impact of debtor management practices on the financial performance of SMEs, and to assess the impact of accounts payable management practice. According to the county administration of Garissa, 243 SMEs were targeted. A sample of 149 SMEs were selected using simple random sampling.  According to the county administration of Garissa, 243 SMEs were targeted. Simple random sampling was used to draw a total of 149 SMEs. Secondary data was evaluated using quantitative methods. Tables were used to present the data. According to the study's regression results, accounts receivable management had a minimal influence on return on assets. Inventory management has a major detrimental impact on SMEs' financial performance. Cash management has a beneficial and considerable impact on the performance of SMEs. The study concluded that managers could increase return on an asset through shortening inventory turnover and increasing accounts payable days.

Commercial banks in Kenya as per the World Bank report were recording higher non-performance in loans over the study period than the standard globally in spite of Kenya having the most stable and developed banking system in East and Central Africa region. Commercial banks non-performing loans for five years from 2015 to 2018 averaged eleven percent which was higher than the recommended rate of one percent. In Kenya, commercial banks’ non-performing loans remain higher than the recommended rate which could be due to inadequate credit management practices. The study therefore aimed at examining the effect of credit management practices on loan performance of commercial banks in Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to establish the effect of debt collection policy, client appraisal and lending policy on the loan performance of commercial banks in Kenya. The underpinning theory of the study was the 5Cs model for credit. The study used explanatory research design and the research philosophy adopted was positivism. The target population was 44 commercial banks in Kenya and a census approach was used. Both primary and secondary data were used. Primary data was collected through structured questionnaires and related to credit management practices while secondary data was obtained from review of existing bank loan records in relation to loan amount advanced and non-performing loans for a period of four years from 2015-2018. The data collected was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics with the help of SPSS version 22. The study found out that debt collection policy and lending policy had a positive significant effect on loan performance of commercial banks in Kenya. However, client appraisal had no significant effect on loan performance of commercial banks in Kenya. Therefore, the study concluded that commercial banks’ loan performance could be largely attributed to the efficiency of the credit management practices put in place at the institutions. The study recommended that commercial banks to regularly evaluate and update practices relating to debt collection policy, client appraisal and lending policy that are capable of ensuring that credit risks are identified and recorded from departmental level to the institution at large. This is vital in light of technological innovations in the banking sector like mobile lending that may limit commercial banks’ ability to evaluate and manage credit using traditional methods.