Enhancing enterprise security risk management adoption in Kenyan universities: the role of administrative staff commitment

This study explores the association between administrative staff commitment and the adoption of enterprise security risk management (ESRM) within accredited universities in Kenya. Drawing on institutional and diffusion of innovation theories, the research emphasises the pivotal role of administrative commitment in institutionalising ESRM. A sample of 42 institutions, comprising 22 public and 20 private universities, was selected from 75 accredited universities. Questionnaire responses from security executives were analysed using Spearman's correlation and ordinal logistic regression. The findings reveal a significant and positive influence of administrative staff commitment on ESRM adoption. The study highlights that commitment from university administrators, accounts for 55.2% of the variance in ESRM adoption, underscoring the need for prioritising security risk management at the institutional level. The findings suggest a strategic approach, urging administrators to integrate ESRM into mission statements and elevate leadership commitment to a policy requirement, thereby advancing effective ESRM institutionalisation in higher education.