THE NEXUS BETWEEN PARTY LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION OF SELECTED POLITICAL PARTIES IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA
THE NEXUS BETWEEN PARTY LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION OF SELECTED POLITICAL PARTIES IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA
Langat Jonathan Kipronoh - Master’s in Business Administration, Kenya Methodist University, Kenya
Dr. Peter Kihara - Kenya Methodist University, Kenya
James Mbebe - Kenya Methodist University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Political parties across the globe continue to grapple with institutional and structural challenges with the potential to compromise their legitimacy, effective functioning and eventual survival. These challenges include declining membership, poor institutionalization, weak internal organization, serious internal conflicts and inferior electoral performance which are mainly caused by lack of strategy implementation. Therefore, the main objective of the study was to establish the extent to which the party leadership influence strategy implementation of political parties in Kenya. The theoretical foundation of the study was based on the Ricky Griffin’s Model. Descriptive research design was used in the study as it ensures complete description of the situation, ensuring that biasness is minimized in data collection. The study targeted fifty-four registered political parties in Kenya whose head offices are within Nairobi, whereby a sample size of eleven parties were selected through purposive sampling technique comprising of executive director, director of strategy, director of membership recruitment and services, director of financial services and director of policy making a sample respondent of fifty-five. The study used mainly primary data which was collected using questionnaires containing closed ended questions in a Likert scale. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. For inferential statistics, regression analysis was conducted to show the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Data collected from the questionnaires was checked for errors, coded and then analyzed with the aid of SPSS software. The study found that party measures performance to realize the key objectives set from the strategy. In relation to party leadership the study established that party leadership has formulated a strong action plan for strategy implementation. The study concludes that party leadership significantly affect strategic implementation of political parties in Kenya. Based on research findings and conclusion the study recommends that management team of political parties should establish a strong and competent leadership to enhance proper implementation of strategy.
