Effect of investment decision on financial performance of savings and credit cooperatives in Kitui central sub-county, Kenya

Abstract

This research work focused on determining the effect of investment decisions on financial performance of Savings and Credit Cooperatives in Kitui Central Sub - County. This is was due to the observed decline in performance of SACCOS in Kenya due to a low investment culture. The research adopted four objectives as a drive towards the results as follows; to assess the effect of Replacement decision on Financial Performance of SACCOs in Kitui Central Sub - County, to find out the effects of Expansion Decision on Financial Performance of SACCOs in Kitui Central Sub - County, to investigate the effect of Renewal or modernization Decision on financial performance of SAC COs in Kitui Central Sub - County, and to evaluate the effects of Research and Development Decision on Financial Performance of SACCOs in Kitui Centr al Sub - County. The study adopted an empirical study design for a time - series data of a ten year period from 2 006 - 2015. The research was undertaken on all twelve (12) SACCOS located in Kitui Town thus utilizing a Census technique in selection of respondents. Simple multivariate analysis was used for data analysis; while Karl Pearson’s correlation was used in deter mining the correlation within variables. The results of study were produced using data analysis workbook; the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS - version 21) . Data presentation was done using tables. The study findings indicated that replacement decision, renewal decisions and research and development decisions positively contributed to SACCO performance as measured by dividends while expansion decisions had a negative contribution. On the other hand, expansion decision, modernization decision and research and development decision had a positive contribution to SACCO financial performance as measured by surplus or deficits while replacement decision had a negative effect. The study concluded that only research and development decision had a significant effect to SACCO performance while expansion decision, replacement decision, and research and development decision had no significant effects to SACCO financial performance. Thus, not all of investment decisions affect financial performance in SACCOs. The study recommended that SACCOs should invest more in research and development decision as it had a significant effect to SACCO financial performance, the least variation to the expected results and the highest contribution to financial performance in respect to SACCOs.