Designation
Director Innovation , Incubation and Enterprise Development and Senior Lecturer
Staff E-mail Address
rotich@kcau.ac.ke
Academic Qualification
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Entrepreneurship – Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) – United States International University (USIU)
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Agricultural Economics – Egerton University
Membership of Professional Bodies/Associations
- Kenya Institute of Management (KIM)
Profile
An energetic and skilled academic and professional, specializing in SMEs, family business, and innovation. With extensive experience in entrepreneurship, business strategy, and commercialization, I am passionate about fostering startup growth, intrapreneurship, and research-to-market initiatives. Adept at teaching, mentoring, and policy development, I bring initiative, good judgment, strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to inspire exceptional performance in dynamic and evolving environments.
Reviewer for European Scientific Institute (the publisher of the ELP) since 2015.
Reviewer of protocols/proposals for USIU IERC since 2015
Research Advisor: European Scientific Institute (the publisher of the ELP) March 2021 to date
Registered Researcher with National Commission for Science Technology and Innovation No: NACOSTI/R/2021/00015
Member of The ALL-IN Research Network (ARN)
Member of East Africa Network Learning for Administrators & Researchers (EANLAR)
Selected Publications: Books, Refereed publications & Non Refereed publications
- Mwangi, R. M., & Rotich, A. (2019). The effect of threat of job loss on entrepreneurial intentions and gestation actions. Journal of Small Business Management, 57, 598-615. available : https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jsbm.12515
- Rotich, A. K., & Wanjau, K. (2017). The effects of Relationship banking and entrepreneurial orientation on financial performance of manufacturing firms in Kenya. KCA Journal of Business Management, 8(1), 59-73. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/kjbm/article/view/158220
- Rotich, A. K., Wanjau, K. L., & Namusonge, G. (2015). Moderating Role of Entrepreneurial Orientation on t he Relationship between Relationship Lending and Finan cial Performance of manufacturing SMEs in Kenya. http://41.89.49.13:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/1312
Research Interest
- SME Growth and Sustainability – Access to finance, competitive strategy, and scaling challenges for small and medium enterprises.
- Family Business Dynamics – Governance, succession planning, and professionalization of family-owned enterprises.
- Innovation and Commercialization – University-industry linkages, startup incubation, and research-to-market strategies.
- Entrepreneurial Finance – Alternative financing models, financial literacy, and investment readiness for startups.
- Intrapreneurship and Corporate Innovation – Fostering entrepreneurial mindsets within established organizations.
- Technology and Entrepreneurship – Digital transformation, fintech, and the role of emerging technologies in business growth.
- Sustainable and Social Entrepreneurship – Green finance, impact-driven ventures, and sustainability in business models.
Research Grants
- Learning and Design Lab Project – Researcher; funded by the British Council.
Financial Literacy Project for Micro-Entrepreneurs in Nairobi, Kajiado, and Kisumu – Principal Investigator (PI); funded by Mastercard Foundation.
- STINT Project on Critical Success Factors of Women-Led Enterprises in Kenya and Namibia – Lead Researcher/Manager; supported by the Stockholm School of Economics
- Constructs of Successful SME Leadership: A Comparative Study of Kenya and Uganda – Researcher; supported by a grant from Trust Africa.
- Development of commercialiation masterplan. Funded by Kenya National innovation agency
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