ABSTRACT
Micro-enterprises play a critical role in employment creation, poverty reduction, and economic development in many developing countries including Kenya. However, despite their contribution to the economy, many micro-enterprises struggle to achieve sustainable growth due to limited access to resources, low levels of innovation, and inadequate technological capabilities. Technology orientation has been identified as a strategic capability that can enhance organizational performance by improving innovation, operational efficiency, and customer engagement. This study examined the effect of technology orientation on the performance of micro-enterprises in Kisumu County, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive survey and correlational research design. The target population comprised 22,000 micro-enterprises operating in Kisumu County, from which a sample of 384 respondents was selected using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The findings revealed that technology orientation has a significant positive effect on micro-enterprise performance (β = 0.442, p < .001). The regression model explained 55.6% of the variance in enterprise performance (R² = .556). The study concludes that technology orientation significantly improves innovation capability, operational efficiency, and market competitiveness among micro-enterprises. The study recommends increased technological adoption, digital training programs, and policy support to enhance the competitiveness of micro-enterprises.

ABSTRACT
The controller of budget in his 2019 report identified the issues of inadequate capacity building for staff, inadequate citizen public participation on essential county projects and programs, poor key stakeholder involvement in project decisions and poor project relevance as the major challenges facing the county government of Busia. The County Government of Busia was also faulted for poor absorption of development and recurrent funds at a rate of 48.3% and 58.2% respectively. These disparities could be accredited to poor leadership in the County Government of Busia. The purpose of the study was to determine the moderating influence of organizational structure on the association between strategic leadership and service delivery (SD) in the county government of Busia, Kenya. From the results, when organizational structure was introduced into the model, that is, on the link between strategic leadership and SD in county government of Busia, it reduced the influence of the strategic leadership on SD in county government of Busia. The influence of visionary leadership decreased from β = 0.372 to β = -0.048, transactional contingent reward from β = 0.384 to β = 0.098 while decentralization from β = 0.368 to β = -0.004. The study concluded that organizational structure moderated positively the strategic leadership-service delivery relationship. The study recommends that Busia County government ought to be visionary by developing relevant sustainable development plans, setting clear performance targets and rewards as well as ensure that services meet all residents’ needs and expectations. These study findings are helpful in policy formulation Busia County governments, industry practice by county government leadership and will add to existing scholarly works in this area.

ABSTRACT
Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are resource constrained largely on account of their economic size, and they usually do not have required resource capacity to take advantage of entrepreneurial opportunities available on the policy ecosystem. There has been a large amount of research on financial interventions to boast MSMEs but scholars have overlooked the nexus between MSMEs-entrepreneurship infrastructural policy intervention and entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of MSMEs in Nigeria. Therefore, the paper aims to ascertain the relationship between infrastructure resource support of the National Enterprise Development and EO of MSMEs in Nigeria. The study adopted an analytic descriptive survey design. The population of the study is 3,455 MSMEs and a sample of 342 MSMEs was selected through a stratified random sampling method. The data collection instrument was a structured questionnaire, which was validated through a content validity approach. The internal consistency of the measurement instrument was ascertained using Cronbach alpha, with coefficients ranging from 0.72 and 0.79. The data were collected from managers of MSMEs and were analysed with Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with a single step process approach. The study found that there was a positive significant relationship between entrepreneurship infrastructure policy and innovative orientation, proactive orientation, and risk-taking orientation of MSMEs (β = 0.278, t = 8.101, p < 0.05; β = 0.131, t = 2 549, p < 0.05; β = -0.008, t = 0. 004, p > 0.05). The study concluded that infrastructure resource support programme of the Federal Government stimulated innovative, proactive and risk-taking entrepreneurial behavior of MSMEs in Nigeria. The study recommended that infrastructural interventions should continue with a view to providing a robust policy environment for MSMEs to take advantage of entrepreneurial opportunities in Nigeria.

ABSTRACT
The growing need for sustainable and cost-effective urban transport has led to increased attention towards alternative fuels such as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). This paper analyses the adoption and usage behaviour, level of satisfaction and future intentions of the users of CNG auto services in semi-urban setting. Descriptive and analytical research design was used and primary data was obtained via a structured questionnaire that was given to CNG auto users. The analysis on the impact of socio-economic factors, awareness, cost perception, and service quality on the usage behaviour and satisfaction is conducted. The results indicate that the lower and middle-income populations have been the major users of CNG autos, which can be attributed to the fact that it is affordable and is perceived to save money. The statistical analysis shows that the awareness and frequency of usage have a significant association, and the service quality factors, especially comfort and availability, have a significant association with customer satisfaction. Moreover, environmental awareness is determined to have a positive impact on intentions to adopt in the future. The paper concludes that CNG-driven auto services are the potential and sustainable means of transportation, with both economic and environmental benefits. However, challenges related to infrastructure and availability needs to be addressed to enhance adoption. The results can be useful to policymakers and service providers to advance environmentally friendly urban mobility solutions.

ABSTRACT
This study examines oil revenue volatility and Nigeria’s fiscal stability: evidence from budget performance, with particular emphasis on oil rents as a percentage of GDP, oil price volatility, fuel pump price volatility, and oil exports. Using annual time-series data covering the period 1985 to 2024, the study employs the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) unit root test to examine the stationarity properties of the variables, the Johansen cointegration test to determine the existence of long-run relationships, and the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to analyze both short-run dynamics and long-run adjustments. The VECM results show that oil price volatility has the strongest positive and statistically significant effect on government debt to GDP, indicating that fluctuations in global oil prices significantly increase fiscal instability in the short run. Oil rents also exhibit a positive and significant effect, implying that higher dependence on oil revenue increases vulnerability to fiscal shocks. Fuel pump price volatility shows a positive but weakly significant effect, while oil exports have a negative relationship with government debt to GDP, suggesting a mild stabilizing effect on fiscal performance. The error correction term is negative and highly significant (-0.703), indicating that approximately 70% of short-run deviations from long-run equilibrium are corrected within one year, reflecting a relatively fast adjustment process. The study concludes that oil revenue volatility is a major determinant of fiscal instability and weak budget performance in Nigeria. Policy recommendations emphasize the need for revenue diversification, stronger fiscal stabilization mechanisms, improved oil export efficiency, and disciplined medium-term fiscal planning to reduce vulnerability to oil market shocks.

ABSTRACT
This study investigates the effect of selected macroeconomic variables on export performance in West Africa over the period 1991–2024. Using panel data for 13 countries, the study employs a panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach to estimate both short-run and long-run dynamics, while accounting for potential heterogeneity across countries. The dependent variable is export performance, proxied by exports of goods and services (EXGS), while independent variables include exchange rate (EXCR), foreign direct investment (FDI), GDP growth rate (GDPR), inflation (INFL), and trade openness (TRD). Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and panel unit root tests confirm the properties of the data, while Pedroni residual cointegration tests establish the existence of a stable long-run relationship among the variables. Empirical findings indicate that GDP growth and trade openness significantly drive export performance in the long run, whereas exchange rate fluctuations have a modest positive effect. In the short run, inflation and trade openness influence exports, while the error correction term confirms that deviations from long-run equilibrium are gradually corrected. The study underscores the importance of promoting macroeconomic stability, trade liberalization, and sustained economic growth as key strategies to enhance export performance in West Africa. The findings provide empirical evidence for policymakers seeking to strengthen regional exports and economic integration.

ABSTRACT
This paper examines the factors affecting the sustainability of water projects in Dodoma City, focusing on Msalato Ward. Despite numerous investments by the Tanzanian government and development partners, many community water projects experience operational challenges, low reliability, and poor management. The study employed a mixed-methods approach involving 55 respondents, including households, ward leaders, and DUWASA officials. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, and observation. The results revealed that the sustainability of water projects in Msalato Ward is affected by technical, financial, institutional, and social factors. Frequent equipment breakdowns, limited spare parts, and insufficient community participation were major constraints. The study recommends strengthening technical capacity, enhancing community ownership, and ensuring transparency in fund management to promote project sustainability.