Volume 8, Issue 6, June – 2023 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology ISSN No:-2456-2165 IJISRT23JUN966 www.ijisrt.com 1525 The Mediating Role of Succession Planning on the Relationship between Strategic Leadership and Organizational Performance: A Study of Kenya Airways Victoria Mutungi 1 , Beatrice A. Oduor 2 , Truphena Oduol 3 Department of Leadership, School of Leadership, Business and Technology, Pan Africa Christian University, Nairobi, Kenya Correspondence: Victoria Mutungi 1 Abstract:- In today's dynamic business landscape, the aviation sector has experienced significant transformations due to technological advancements and intensified competition. This research sought to examine the mediating role of succession planning in the relationship between strategic leadership and organizational performance in the context of Kenya Airways. Drawing on the Resource-Based View (RBV) theory, Strategic Leadership theory, Upper Echelon theory, and Path-Goal Leadership theory, this study investigated the effects of strategic direction, resource utilization, organizational culture, and ethical practices on Kenya Airways' performance. Using an explanatory sequential mixed-method research design, data was collected from a sample of 88 top and middle managers within Kenya Airways. The study employed a semi- structured questionnaire, open-ended interviews, and secondary data from financial reports spanning 2013 to 2021. The findings revealed that succession planning plays a partial mediating role on the relationship between strategic leadership and organizational performance. The findings have practical implications for the aviation industry, providing insights into the importance of strategic leadership, succession planning, and related factors in enhancing organizational performance. Keywords:- Succession planning, Strategic leadership, Organizational performance, Aviation industry, Resource- Based View (RBV), Mediation. I. INTRODUCTION The business arena in the 21st century has become volatile and uncertain, affecting organizations' performance. The aviation sector, in particular, has faced turbulent times in a volatile and uncertain business world such as changes in regulations, technological advancements, competition from low-cost airlines, high jet fuel costs, and the recent COVID- 19 pandemic. These challenges have negatively impacted on the sector's performance, leading to negative margins and a decline in cargo and passenger flights. However, the importance of this sector in promoting economic growth necessitates its sustainability. In various regions, such as the Middle East, the aviation sector experienced a negative operating margin and a drop in cargo volume due to trade tensions between the USA and China. Similarly, airlines in the Asia-Pacific region witnessed a decline in cargo volume. These challenges have not only affected passenger flights but also cargo flights, resulting in negative margins (IATA, 2020). In Indonesia, the aviation sector's performance declined between 2014 and 2018 due to factors such as a weakening national currency and high navigation costs. Garuda Indonesia, the country's flag carrier, recorded a significant decrease in return on equity (ROE), indicating the impact of high operating costs on overall profitability (Prissia & Daryanto, 2019). African airlines have also faced challenges in achieving dominance in the global market and have experienced leadership failures. For instance, South Africa Airways accumulated increasing losses and had to undergo a business rescue initiative sponsored by the government. Additionally, partnerships between airlines, such as Air Tanzania Limited and South African Airways, collapsed due to accumulated losses and other operational issues (Busungu, 2020; Nyatsumba & David, 2021). Kenya Airways, the largest airline in Kenya, has also faced poor performance and financial losses. The airline has recorded a downward trend in its performance since 2014, with net losses increasing over the years. The impact of the COVID- 19 pandemic further exacerbated the airline's financial challenges, leading to a record-high net loss in 2020. As a result, the airline has relied on government support (Mungai & Bula, 2018; Nyatsumba & Pooe, 2022). These challenges in the aviation sector highlight the importance of effective leadership to navigate through turbulent times and ensure organizational sustainability. Strategic leadership, as the independent variable in this study, refers to top leaders who develop and implement long-term plans for organizational enhancement. Strategic leadership, characterized by developing and implementing well-thought-out plans for long-term enhancement, plays a crucial role in organizational sustainability. Strategic leaders are responsible for making strategic decisions that impact organizational performance (Kim, 2020; Munawaroh et al., 2021; Ojogiwa, 2021).