Abstract
Purpose: The study sought to evaluate the power of student retention strategies on performance of TVET institutes in Kenya: a case study of Nairobi City County. In order to capture the required information, the study is guided by four objectives; to assess the influence of student orientation and induction strategy, student support programs strategy, customer relation management, and student involvement and participation on performance of TVET institutes in Kenya. This study is anchored on drive reduction theory, tinto’s learner’s integration theory, the cognitive dissonance theory and structural strain theory. Methodology: The study used a descriptive survey design utilizing primary quantitative and qualitative data. The study employed stratified and simple sampling techniques on the population. Targeted study population was 182 TVET institutes in Nairobi region with teaching staff and dean of students being unit of observation. 70 institutions were targeted as a sample size by the study. Data was collected through the administration of questionnaires to TVET institutions lecturers and deans of students being the respondents. A pilot study was conducted on 10 randomly selected TVET institutes in Nairobi region equivalent to 6% of the overall population. Reliability of the research instrument was established through Cronbach’s Alpha (α) scale of 0.7 (internal consistency measure) thresholds. Content validity of the instrument was conducted. Descriptive and inferential statistics was used for the purpose of data analysis using Microsoft Excel software and SPSS version 22.0.Results: The outcomes of the research showed that majority of the sampled staff had attained graduate level of learning, the institution had Student orientation and induction as indicated by 55.75% of respondents. The institution had in place student support programs as indicated by 40% of respondents. About 31% of the sampled population revealed that TVET institutions in Nairobi County had Customer relationship management program and 27% of the respondents agreed that students were involved to participate on decision making.Contributions: the study makes contribution to policy in regard to student orientation and induction strategy, student support program strategy, customer relation strategy and student involvement and participation