Ownership Structure and Corporate Sustainability Disclosure in Kenya: Interaction Effect of Board Gender Diversity

Abstract

Most firms in this day and age seek to report issues affecting assorted stakeholders. Consequently, sustainability revelation endorses all-inclusive rather than economic performance analysis of the organization. The study sought after the interaction effect of board gender diversity in the relationship between ownership structure and corporate sustainability disclosure of listed companies in Kenya. The theoretical framework was made of legitimacy, triple bottom line and stakeholder theories. Guided by causal research design, 62 listed companies were targeted but 56 were included after inclusion and exclusion criteria. .  Secondary data obtained from audited annual reports for the year 2021 was analyzed using SPSS. From the multiple regression analysis, there was a negative but significant effect (β= -.246, .001<.05) of managerial ownership on corporate sustainability disclosure. On the contrary, both institutional and foreign ownership positively but insignificantly affect corporate sustainability disclosure as indicated by (β=.423, .816>.05) and (β=.356, .559>.05) respectively. Furthermore, board gender diversity positively and significantly moderates the relationship between managerial (β=.277, .001<.05) along with institutional ownership (β=.343, .000<.05) and corporate sustainability disclosure. To sum up, sustainability disclosure of the firm is vital for institutional and foreign more than managerial investors. From the findings, board gender diversity enriches sustainability disclosure once interacted with managerial and institutional ownership structure.  The management of the listed companies in Kenya are expected to uphold ownership structure by attracting investors, both individuals and institutions. More importantly, the companies are expected to formulate ways of promoting women representation in the board so as to progress the gender diversity concept.