Leadership Practices and Competitiveness of Private Universities in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Abstract

The study examined the influence of leadership practices on the competitiveness of private universities in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The research was driven by increasing competition in the higher education sector, which requires effective leadership strategies to improve institutional competitiveness. Using a descriptive research design, data were collected from key administrative leaders at 19 private universities, including deans and associate vice chancellors. The results of the analysis show a strong positive relationship between leadership practices and university competitiveness with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.704. Leadership practices characterized by strict supervision, clear leadership and structured reward systems have been found to have a significant impact on the competitiveness of institutions. The regression analysis also shows that 56.1% of the differences in competitiveness can be explained by leadership practices, highlighting the critical role of effective leadership. The study recommends that private universities invest in leadership development programs to foster a participatory and innovative management environment, essential to maintaining competitiveness in the evolving education landscape