Strategic Determinants on Implementation of County Annual Development Plans among County Government in Kenya. A Survey of Selected Kenyan Counties

Abstract

Kenya devolved form of governance is in massive transition. Although the county governments are devoting considerable efforts in developing strategic county annual development plans, they are paying less attention on strategic implementation of these plans. More so, there is limited empirical literature on the strategic determinants of implementation of county annual development plans among Kenyan Counties. This necessitates immediate analysis to appropriate more research in this area; which is the reason this research was necessary. The purpose of the study was to analyse the effect of strategic determinants on implementation of county annual development plans among County Governments in Kenya. The study specifically sought to establish the effects of; strategic leadership characteristics on implementation of county annual development plans among County Governments in Kenya, organizational resources on implementation of county annual development plans among County Governments in Kenya, organizational culture on implementation of county annual development plans among County Governments in Kenya, and organizational structure on implementation of county annual development plans among County Governments in Kenya. The study was based on fundamental underpinning theories which included; stakeholders’ theory, resource-based theory and open system theory. The research employed descriptive survey research design and targeted the 531 officers of Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado and Machakos counties; consisting of; County Executive Officers, Sub-County Administrators, Members of County Assemblies, and Ward Administrators. In its sampling, Yamane formula was used to establish a sample of 228 respondents; carefully chosen using stratified random sampling approach. Data used in the thesis was gathered on questionnaire administered to the sample population using drop and pick approach. During analysis, quantitative approach was used to avail descriptive statistics and then ordinal logistics regression statistics; with results presented in tables and figures. The study found that at 0.05 level of significance there is a; statistically significant positive effect of strategic leadership characteristics on implementation of county annual development plans among County Governments in Kenya (p<0.01), statistically significant positive effect of organizational resources on implementation of county annual development plans among County Governments in Kenya (p<0.01), statistically significant positive effect of organizational culture on implementation of county annual development plans among County Governments in Kenya p<0.01), and statistically significant positive effect of organizational structure on implementation of county annual development plans among County Governments in Kenya (p<0.01). The study recommends that the Kenyan counties should; review their policies on strategic leadership matters and especially on the characteristics of their leadership; effectively manage their organizational resources informed by the county annual development plans; adopt county specific organizational cultures relevant to their environments; and review their organizational structures by redesigning their line of command in addition to redefining the responsibility and authority on activities related to implementation of county annual development plans. There should also be clear specification of job definition and description.