Investment Strategy and Financial Performance of Defined Contribution Pension Funds in Kenya

Pension funds are meant to enable pensioners to live quality life upon retirement by paying them retirement benefits. Financial performance of defined contribution pension funds in Kenya has continued to portray unimpressive trend despite positive targets set by the pension funds. Hence, the study examined the effect of investment strategy on financial performance of defined contribution pension funds in Kenya. Systems theory view of pension funds, agency theory, portfolio theory and fisher’s theory of investment guided this study. Secondary data was used in the study. Correlational research design and positivism research philosophy were adopted by this study. The target population comprised of 1172 registered defined contribution pension funds in Kenya as of December 2018. A sample size of 289 defined contribution pension funds were involved in the study and were selected by applying stratified random sampling method. The study established that a positive association exists between investment strategy and financial performance of defined contribution pension funds in Kenya. It concluded that investment strategy explained up to 57.76% of the variations in the return on investment. The regression analysis conducted found a significantly positive association between long term investments and return on investment. Medium term investments was also found to be positively and significantly connected to return on investment. There was also a significantly positive relationship between short term investments and return on investment. Alternative investments was found to be positively and significantly connected to return on investment. The coefficient of determination increased from 57.76% to 65.47% when density of contributions interacted with long term investments, medium term investments, short term investments and alternative investments. The study recommended long term investments as the most ideal investment option for defined contribution pension funds because of its ability to generate the highest return on investment. Medium term investments was recommended as the second best investment option to be embraced by defined contribution pension funds because of its ability to yield good returns as well, second to long term investments. The next investment priority should be given to the alternative investments since it had the third highest regression of coefficients. The least investment option to be undertaken by defined contribution pension funds should be short term investments. Keywords: Long term investments, medium term investments, short term investments, alternative investments, density of contribution, performance, defined contribution pension funds, Kenya.