DEVOLUTION AND ITS EFFECT ON THE EXPANSION OF MEDICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN NAKURU COUNTY, KENYA
Edward Otieno Omondi - Student, Master Policy of Arts (Public and Administration), Kenyatta University Kenya
Felix Kiruthu - Lecturer, School of School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences, Kenyatta University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Medical infrastructure is regarded as among key service delivery component in the health care system and it relates to all physical infrastructure (medical heath facilities), medical equipment (inpatient beds), transport system (Ambulance services) and Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) required for effective service delivery. Literature reviews reveal so little about devolution effects on medical infrastructure expansion as a number focus on administration, human resource and funding despite the uneven health care service distribution and coverage hence indicating scholarly gaps that need to be addressed. This study hence sought to examine the effect of devolution on the expansion of medical infrastructure in Nakuru County, the study sought to investigate devolution impact on medical infrastructure expansion in Kenya: case in study of Nakuru county. The investigation was guided by the following specific objectives: to investigate the effect of devolution on the expansion of medical laboratories, expansion of surgical theatres as well as to assess the effect of devolution on the expansion of maternity wards in Nakuru County, Kenya. The investigation adopted a descriptive research design. The population target was 4840 health workers in the purposively selected public hospitals in Nakuru County. The research employed Agency theory. Using purposive sampling technique the hospital heads were included in the sample size while the health workers were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Sampled size was 126. Primary data was obtained using Interview guides and questionnaires. The hospital heads were interviewed while the health workers responded to the questionnaires. Research supervisor was consulted in the review of content and predictive validity. Test- retest coefficient tested the reliability of research instrument; a reliability of 7ᵡ⅒ was accepted. SPSS helped analyze data obtained. Interpretation and discussion of the results were guided by the investigation objectives. The research findings revealed that devolved medical laboratories have an inverse and insignificant effect on Medical Infrastructure Expansion in Nakuru county (β1=-0.209, p-value= 0.322). The findings also showed that devolved surgical theatres have an inverse and insignificant effect on medical infrastructure expansion in Nakuru county (β2=-0.376, p-value= 0.063). The research further concludes that devolved maternity wards had a productive and remarkable impact on medical infrastructure expansion in Nakuru county (β3=0.938, p-value=0.000). Study concludes that there were limited maintenance and sustenance mechanism for the laboratory infrastructure leading to dysfunctional medical laboratory equipment and infrastructure. The research also indicated that limited number of reliable sources of power and power back-up plans negatively affected the expansion of surgical theatres. Study also indicates that devolution greatly influenced the establishment of more maternity wards in Nakuru county. The study recommends the Kenyan government and policy implementers to consider equipping surgical theatres and enforce already existing laws on medical equipment procurement and asset acquisition to help enhance devolved medical theatres in the devolved units and nationally. Devolved units through the Ministry of lands should also consider acquiring and utilizing idle public lands for the expansion of medical infrastructure. The study further recommends the Kenyan government to consider increasing funds and resources on research and innovation program including training for surgical and laboratory equipment operators as well as embark on a recruiting exercise for midwifery and nurses in Nakuru county as well as the country at large.
ROLE OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IN COUNTERING VIOLENT EXTREMISM IN MANDERA COUNTY, KENYA
Waswa Wabwile Brian - Student, Master Policy of Arts (Public and Administration), Kenyatta University Kenya
Wilson Muna - Lecturer, School of School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences, Kenyatta University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Violent extremism has negative consequences to both the country and the citizens. A number of researches have been conducted on the subject but none has focused specifically on the role of national Government in countering violent extremism. This study aims at establishing the role of National Government in countering violent extremism in Mandera County; Banisa Sub County. The independent variables for this study are: awareness creation, coordination of internal security and information sharing. The dependent variable for this study is countering violent extremism. The study reviewed available literature and the theories related to this study. This formed the basis of the conceptual framework. The study adopted descriptive case design as it research design. The target population consisted of internal security team members, chiefs and assistant chiefs, sub county terrorism unit and village elders from which a sample of 165 respondents were randomly selected. The study used both primary data collected by open and closed ended questionnaires and secondary data collected from existing reports and literature. The study results and findings may be useful to both security teams in counties as well as the national government. Other scholars may also use the findings for further research while the citizens may be aware of how to contribute to countering violent extremism. The study found the existence of relationship creation of awareness, coordination and information sharing with countering violent extremism. The study concludes that national government played a significant role in countering violent extremism.
EFFECTS OF COUNTY GOVERNANCE PRACTICES ON PROMOTING RURAL DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF WAJIR COUNTY
Hussein Kalil Abdi - Student, Master of public Policy and Administration, Kenyatta University, Kenya
David Minja - Professor, Department of Public Policy & Administration, Kenyatta University Kenya
ABSTRACT
Devolution has the potential to enhance access to key services in Wajir County by bringing decision-making and service delivery closer to the local population. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of governance practices on effectiveness of service delivery in Wajir County. The study specific objectives were to examine how accountability and transparency influences rural development in Wajir County. Specifically, it aimed at assessing the changes in access, quality, equity, efficiency, and public satisfaction and participation in key decision making resulting from the shift in governance structure and decision-making authority from the national government to the county government. This study was guided by several theories including the good governance theory, participatory development theory and stakeholder management theory and conceptual frameworks to analyze the effect of county governance practices on accountability and service delivery effectiveness. This study utilized a mixed-methods approach to gather comprehensive and robust data. Quantitative data is collected through structured surveys administered to a representative sample of county government workers in Wajir County. The surveys captured information related to access to accountability, perceptions of service quality, satisfaction levels, and equity in service delivery. Qualitative data was obtained through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with key stakeholders, including county government officials, county management and lower carder staff in the county. These qualitative data sources provide insights into the contextual factors, challenges, and potential opportunities associated with devolution and its impact on service delivery effectiveness and public participation on key decision making processes. The study reveals that transparency in communication, information access, and public service delivery is relatively well-established within the county. The study concluded that governance practices are important in promoting rural development. The study recommends that county governments should find ways of promoting policy initiatives to enhance transparency, policy implementation, and accountability to promote sustainable rural development in the region.
FISCAL DECENTRALIZATION AND ITS EFFECTS ON ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN KENYA, MACHAKOS COUNTY
Norah Ameliah Mwongera - Student, Master Policy of Arts (Public and Administration), Kenyatta University Kenya
Wilson Muna - Lecturer, School of School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences, Kenyatta University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
The inefficiencies in healthcare service delivery witnessed in most parts of the country has prompted the study to investigate the effect of fiscal decentralization on access to healthcare services. Fiscal decentralization plays a key role in service delivery in the public sector by ensuring that services are taken close to the people. The accountability of both levels of governments ensures effective service delivery in key sectors such as health, education and water service. In Kenya, fiscal decentralization is realized through devolution as anchored in the Constitution of Kenya 2010 following the promulgation on August, 2010, however, the process has not been effective due to inadequacy of funds, lack of accountability at both levels of government leading to inefficient healthcare service delivery despite the national government launching universal healthcare for all in four counties namely; Kisumu, Nyeri, Machakos and Isiolo. The study seeks to achieve three research objectives; first, to examine the relationship between revenue decentralization and access to healthcare, secondly, to examine the relationship between expenditure decentralization and access to healthcare and lastly, to analyze the effect of grants on access to healthcare services in Kenya, Machakos County. The study is anchored on fiscal decentralization theory because the theory shows the relevance of the fiscal decentralization in promoting service delivery to the public remotely. The study employs non-experimental research design with a panel data from Machakos County for a period of 2013-2022. The study found that revenue decentralization insignificantly affect healthcare services access, expenditure decentralization significantly affect healthcare services access negatively while grants plays a positive and significant role in access to healthcare services in Machakos County. The study recommended that more resources should be allocated towards the development of the sector to enhance services delivery to the public and the resources should be used prudently and every coin accounted for so that the value for money is realized to all.
INFORMATION COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLANS IN BARINGO COUNTY, KENYA
INFORMATION COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLANS IN BARINGO COUNTY, KENYA
Mercy Jerop Kiplagat - School of Business, Economics and Tourism, Kenyatta University, Kenya
Dr. Chrispen Maende - School of Business, Economics and Tourism, Kenyatta University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
For strategic plans to be effectively implemented there is need to adopt an integrative and multifaceted approach. This involves the adoption of Information Communication Technology (ICT) to support institutional strategic-plans implementation. ICT includes a collection of the entire systems, architecture, resources and infrastructure that facilitate communication and transmission of information. In Kenya, many organizations have adopted diverse forms of ICT to facilitate strategic plan implementation. Consequently, studies have examined the perceived role of but most of these studies have not addressed this phenomenon in the county governments. The paper investigated the influence of ICT on strategic plans implementation in Baringo County. The specific objectives were to determine the influence of ICT human capability and systems planning on strategic plans implementation in Baringo County. The paper was anchored on the human capital theory and the McKinsey’s 7s theory and focused on the descriptive survey design. Chief executive officers, members of county assembly, chief officers, heads of departments and ICT experts from Baringo County provided data. The questionnaire was adopted to collect data. Data was analyzed by the use of means, standard-deviations, Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression analysis. The results revealed that 51.9% of the variance in strategic plans implementation in Baringo County was influenced by ICT human capability while 42.1% was influenced by ICT systems planning. The study concluded that to implement its strategic plans, the county government of Baringo must develop its ICT human capability by investing in ICT infrastructure and aligning the existing ICT infrastructure to the county’s goals of service provision and overall operational strategy. It was recommended that flexible ICT infrastructure should be procured to facilitate the implementation of strategic plans Baringo County.
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