The study aimed to explore employee recognition programs and motivation of the Edmund Rice
Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. The following objectives were used for this study: to examine the effect
of monetary recognition programs on motivation, to explore the effect of non-monetary
recognition programs, to determine the effect of team recognition programs on motivation and To
analyze the effect of skill-based recognition programs on motivation in the Edmund Rice Centre,
Nairobi. The study used Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory and Equity theory. Therefore,
conceptual framework was also drawn to show the relationships between the dependent variables
and independent variable. More so, empirical review of the related literature was done through
different studies derived from global, regional, and local perspectives. The reviewed literature
blended the current study and those literature gaps were filled by the present study. The study used
descriptive research design and questionnaires to collect data from a sample of 15 employees of
Edmund Rice Centre, Nairobi which 13 were the returned rate. The statistical program for social
sciences (SPSS) version 21 was used to get descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that monetary,
non-monetary, team recognition, and skill-based recognition programs significantly impact
employee motivation. Monetary rewards were appreciated by the majority and found to boost
morale and performance, though inconsistencies in reward structures were noted. Non-monetary
recognition, such as public acknowledgement, enhanced employees’ feelings of value and
satisfaction. Team recognition programs, including team outings, strengthened collaboration and
improved organizational productivity. Skill-based recognition was shown to promote continuous
professional development and engagement. The study recommends that the Edmund Rice Centre
and similar organizations to implement structured and transparent recognition policies that
combine financial and non-financial rewards and the increased usage of public recognition tools
and systematic team and skill-based acknowledgements. Suggestions for further research include
investigating the long-term impact of recognition programs on career development and employee
retention, and conducting comparative studies in different sectors or regions.