Evaluating Green Initiatives in TVET Institutions for Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality Development in Murang’a County, Kenya

The study aimed at assessing green initiatives in TVET institutions for sustainable tourism and hospitality development in Murang'a County, Kenya. The study was prompted by the increasing need for tourism and hospitality training institutions to offer their learners the green skills needed in sustainable tourism and hospitality industries. This study analyzed various aspects concerning green initiatives, including the type of green initiatives used, the level of awareness of TVET stakeholders towards sustainable development, the effect of green initiatives on sustainable development goals, and challenges hindering the use of green initiatives for sustainable development. The study utilized a mixed-methods research approach. The study population comprised 665 hospitality students in selected TVET institutions. The sample size was determined using Yamane's formula to be 250. For collecting quantitative data, the study used structured questionnaires, while for qualitative data collection, the study conducted interviews with five principals. Both quantitative and qualitative data analysis were done using SPSS software to find frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple regressions. The results indicated that green initiatives were highly adopted with a mean of 4.087 by way of reminders of energy saving, tree planting activities, proper waste management, and campus greening. The stakeholders had some degree of awareness regarding sustainable development with a mean of 3.284, showing that awareness exists but green knowledge and skill application is not fully developed. Green initiatives had some impact on sustainable development with a mean of 3.696 by enhancing institution reputation and environment-friendly behaviour. There existed various challenges to adoption of green initiatives in institutions with a mean of 4.210 because of poor regulation, high cost, lack of resources, and low knowledge. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the variables studied explained 66.0% of sustainable tourism and hospitality development.

Green initiatives, TVET institutions, sustainable tourism, hospitality development, stakeholder awareness

1. Ajzen, I. (2020). The theory of planned behavior: Frequently asked questions. Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies, 2(4), 314–324. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbe2.195 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Alshammari, K. H. (2023). Green innovation and its effects on innovation climate and environmental sustainability: The moderating role of green absorptive capacity. Sustainability, 15(22), 15898. https://doi.org/10.3390/su152215898 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Aluthge, A. P. (2022). Integrating education for sustainable development (ESD) into technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Sri Lanka. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 6(12), 772–786. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Atif, S., Sarfraz, A., Guoyuan, S., & Zhang, T. (2022). Education for sustainable development and sustainability consciousness: Evidence from Malaysian universities. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 24(1), 193–211. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-05-2021-0198 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Auktor, G. V. (2020). Green industrial skills for a sustainable future. United Nations Industrial Development Organization. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Bashir, M. A., & Wanyonyi, E. (2024). Winning space for conservation: The growth of wildlife conservancies in Kenya. Frontiers in Conservation Science, 5, Article 1385959. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2024.1385959 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Bhandari, P. (2024, October 1). Ethical considerations in research: Types and examples. Scribbr. Scribbr Research Ethics [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Booker, Q. S., Austin, J. D., & Balasubramanian, B. A. (2021). Survey strategies to increase participant response rates in primary care research studies. Family Practice, 38(5), 699–702. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmab070 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Boonkaew, S., Imjai, N., Agmapisarn, C., Sa-nguanwong, T., Moghadas, S., & Aujirapongpan, S. (2025). Developing sustainable hospitality competencies for Gen Z hospitality management students: Matters of work-integrated learning and green mindset. The International Journal of Management Education, 23(3), Article 101265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2025.101265 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Chime, O. H., Orji, C. J., Udeh, N. N., Achi, E. J., Ani, C. C., & Ossai, E. N. (2026). Compliance of undergraduate research informed consent forms with Nigerian national ethical guidelines. Discover Social Science and Health, 6, Article 9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44155-025-00339-6 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Cimino, A., Felicetti, A. M., Corvello, V., Ndou, V., & Longo, F. (2024). Qualitative interviews and mixed-method approaches in sustainability research. Sustainability, 16(4), 2158. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16042158 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Freeman, R. E. (1984). Strategic management: A stakeholder approach. Pitman. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Hennink, M., & Kaiser, B. N. (2022). Sample sizes for saturation in qualitative research: A systematic review of empirical tests. Social Science & Medicine, 292, 114523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114523 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Kamunzyu, E., Makopondo, R., & Opondo, J. (2024). Analysis of effects of green practices on sustainability in urban hotels in Kenya. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 13(3), 589–596. https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.543 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Karanja, A. W. (2026). Green practices and hotel choice decisions among customers of star-rated hotels in Nairobi, Kenya. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 9(1), 36–59. https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t5446 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Kenya Meteorological Department. (2025). State of the climate report 2024. Kenya Meteorological Department. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Kenya News Agency. (2025, July 20). Ministry partners with Murang’a County to unlock tourism and conservation potential. Kenya News Agency [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Kenya School of TVET. (2025). Greening TVET. Kenya School of TVET [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Kenya Wildlife Service. (2024). Kenya Wildlife Service strategic plan 2024–2028. Kenya Wildlife Service. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Krath, J., Schürmann, L., & von Korflesch, H. F. O. (2021). Revealing the theoretical basis of gamification: A systematic review and analysis of theory in research on gamification, serious games and game-based learning. Computers in Human Behavior, 125, 106963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.106963 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Kumar, R., & Praveenakumar, B. (2025). Sampling techniques in educational and social science research. International Journal of Research Methodology, 9(1), 44–58. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Leal Filho, W., Ng, A. W., Sharifi, A., Janová, J., Özuyar, P. G., Hemani, C., Rampasso, I. S., & Salvia, A. L. (2022). Global tourism, climate change and energy sustainability: Assessing carbon reduction mitigating measures from the aviation industry. Sustainability Science, 18, 983–996. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Lenzen, M., Sun, Y. Y., Faturay, F., Ting, Y. P., Geschke, A., & Malik, A. (2018). The carbon footprint of global tourism. Nature Climate Change, 8, 522–528. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0141-x [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Lim, W. M. (2025). What is qualitative research? An overview and guidelines. Australasian Marketing Journal, 33(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/18393349241234567 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Magboo, F. D., Refrea, A. R., & Sumague, K. A. (2022). Integration of green practices on tourism management curriculum. LPU–Laguna Journal of International Tourism and Hospitality Management, 5(1). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. McGahan, A. M. (2023). The new stakeholder theory on organizational purpose. Strategy Science, 8(2), 245–255. https://doi.org/10.1287/stsc.2023.0184 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development. (n.d.). Murang’a County national spatial plan guidelines. Government of Kenya. Murang’a County Spatial Plan Guidelines [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Misik, T., & Nagy, Z. (2025). Sustainability and innovation in hospitality management: Green practices in Northeastern Hungary. Sustainability, 17(13), 6185. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17136185 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Moonga, M. S. (2023). Examining the integration of green concepts and practices into the curricula of tourism and hospitality training institutions of Zambia (Doctoral dissertation, University of Zambia). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Moonga, M. S., Namafe, C., & Chileshe, B. (2022). Sustainability model for integrating green concepts and practices into the curricula of tourism and hospitality training institutions in Zambia. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 6(7), 709–715. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Murang’a County Government. (2023). Third County Integrated Development Plan 2023–2027: Sustainable development for socio-economic transformation. Murang’a County Government. Murang’a CIDP 2023–2027 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation. (2024, March 18). Reminder! Kenya toughens up on research permits for locals and foreigners. NACOSTI. NACOSTI Research Permits Notice [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Ndeche, K. K., Kariuki, A., & Ndubi, E. (2021). Stakeholders’ level of involvement and achievement of sustainability tourism and hospitality industry in Kakamega County. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 4(1), 107–122. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. Ogutu, J. O., Piepho, H. P., Said, M. Y., Ojwang, G. O., Njino, L. W., Kifugo, C. S., & Wargute, P. W. (2016). Extreme wildlife declines and concurrent increase in livestock numbers in Kenya: What are the causes? PLOS ONE, 11(9), e0163249. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0163249 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. Pavlova, M., & Chen, C. S. (2019). Facilitating the development of students’ generic green skills in TVET: An ESD pedagogical model. TVET@Asia, 12, 1–21. TVET Asia Article [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. Raji, A., & Hassan, A. (2021). Sustainability and stakeholder awareness: A case study of a Scottish university. Sustainability, 13(8), 4186. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084186 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. Ranganathan, P., & Aggarwal, R. (2023). Designing and validating a research questionnaire—Part 1. Perspectives in Clinical Research, 14(3), 152–155. https://doi.org/10.4103/picr.picr_140_23 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

38. Reuters. (2025, February 19). Kenya tourism sector earnings to rise to 650 billion shillings in 2025, minister says. Reuters. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

39. Shange, H. S., Zogli, L.-K. J., & Dlamini, B. I. (2025). Green campus initiatives and strategies for sustainability in higher education. Transformation in Higher Education, 10, a364. https://doi.org/10.4102/the.v10i0.364 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

40. Silva, S., Silva, C., & Oliveira, M. (2025). The value of skills for a sustainable tourism and hospitality industry. Tourism and Hospitality, 6(1), Article 14. https://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp6010014 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

41. Taherdoost, H. (2021). Data collection methods and tools for research: A step-by-step guide to choose data collection technique for academic and business research projects. International Journal of Academic Research in Management, 10(1), 10–38. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

42. Tourism Research Institute. (2025). Annual tourism sector performance report 2024. Tourism Research Institute. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

43. Wani, M. J. G., Loganathan, N., & Mujalli, A. (2024). The impact of sustainable development goals (SDGs) on tourism growth: Empirical evidence from G-7 countries. Cogent Social Sciences, 10(1), Article 2397535. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2024.2397535 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

44. World Travel & Tourism Council. (2025). Kenya’s travel and tourism sector set to inject a record KSh1.2TN in 2025. WTTC Kenya Tourism Report [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

45. Xu, Z. (2025). The design and application of in-depth interviews in qualitative studies. Journal of Education and Information Technologies, 30(2), 445–460. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

46. Yamane, T., & Kaneko, S. (2021). Impact of raising awareness of sustainable development goals: A survey experiment eliciting stakeholder preferences for corporate behavior. Journal of Cleaner Production, 285, 125291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125291 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Reconceptualising Sustainable Intelligence as a Multidimensional Psychological Capability
• Bridging the Gap: Assessing Skills, Training, and Competencies for Curriculum Development in Sustainable Tourism
• Locals’ Level of Awareness on the “Naturally Vibrant Nueva Vizcaya” Slogan: Basis for Enhancement of the Province’s Tourism Branding
• Religious and Heritage-Based Tourism: From Ibn Battutah's Travels to Contemporary Global Practices
• Indigenous Community Entrepreneurship in the Tourism Industry towards Technopreneurship in Malaysia