Impact of Cultural Practices on Employee Retention Strategies: A Case Study of Organizations in Bungoma County

This study investigated the impact of cultural practices on employee retention strategies in organizations within Bungoma County, Kenya. Using a descriptive research design, the study collected data from 345 respondents across 30 organizations through questionnaires and interviews. The research examined the relationship between cultural practices such as community obligations, traditional ceremonies, and age-based hierarchy, and their influence on employee retention. Findings revealed a strong positive correlation between cultural practices and employee retention (r=0.68, p=0.001), with community obligations emerging as the most significant cultural factor influencing retention decisions. The study found that while organizations heavily implemented conventional retention strategies (72%), cultural integration strategies remained significantly underutilized (43%). Regression analysis indicated that cultural practices explained 64.8% of the variance in employee retention rates. The research recommends that organizations develop culturally sensitive retention strategies and establish clear policies accommodating cultural practices. The findings contribute to the understanding of how cultural practices influence employee retention and provide practical insights for HR practitioners in developing effective retention strategies within culturally diverse workplaces.