ASSESSMENT OF RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND SAFETY PREPAREDNESS IN SELECTED UNIVERSITIES IN WESTERN REGION, KENYA
Abstract
University risk managers are faced with daunting challenge of identifying and
managing the complex risks across their campuses. The present study perceived that
poor risk management practices among universities in Kenya and the far wide could
reduce if there is an all-inclusive risk management practice structures. The aim of this
study was therefore to assess the risk management practices among universities
located in western region, Kenya. The study explored the University risk management
practices of selected Universities in Western Kenya, to find out the significant
difference between the practices of risk management in public and private
Universities and to find out the risk management challenges that face universities in
western region of Kenya. The study was guided by risk management theory, theory of
planned behaviour and disaster theory. This research used a descriptive study design
where primary data was collected through self-administered questionnaires from 78
key respondents (administrators, school deans, heads of departments, and security
teams) in two public and two private universities. Major findings revealed that
Security, Fire, Natural, and Transportation risk management is practiced but not to a
great extent that is expected in universities with means of (2.914, 2.772, 2.8837 and
2.9551), which are due to challenges of education and training, resources, cost, and
commitment. From independent t-test to compare the risk management practices in
public and private universities, there was no significant difference between the
practice of management of security risk, fire risk, and natural risk in public and
private universities with p values of 0.066, 0.697 and 0.263. Public universities
managed transportation risk better than private universities with a p value of 0.005. It
is recommended that the universities develop strategies towards excellent
implementation of security risk, fire risk, natural risk and transportation risk.
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