High turnover intention in public sector organizations, such as Nairobi County Government in Kenya, undermines operational efficiency and service delivery. This study assesses the moderating effect of human resource (HR) audits on the relationship between salary structure and turnover intention among 350 staff members. Anchored in equity theory and conservation of resources theory, data were gathered via self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using moderated regression. Findings reveal a positive direct effect of salary structure on turnover intention (? = .336, p < .05). HR audits significantly moderate this relationship (? = 0.3295, t = 6.2664, p < 0.0001, ?R² = 0.0445), indicating that robust audits mitigate turnover risks by enhancing perceived fairness and transparency in compensation. This moderation underscores the value of systematic HR evaluations in public administration. Policy recommendations include regular HR audits to align salary structures with retention goals. Limitations and avenues for future research are outlined.
Adams, J. S. (1965). Inequity in Social Exchange. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 267-299). Academic Press.
Aggarwal, A., Mittal, R., & Gupta, S. (2022). Role of HR audits in enhancing employee engagement and retention. International Journal of Business and Management, 17(3), 112–128.
Aiken, L. S., & West, S. G. (1991). Multiple Regression: Testing and Interpreting Interactions. SAGE.
Al-Suraihi, W. A. (2021). Salary structure and turnover intention among medical laboratory technologists. Journal of Healthcare Management, 66(2), 89–102.
Cascio, W. F., & Boudreau, J. W. (2022). The Future of Compensation: Trends and Strategies. Organizational Dynamics, 51(2), 98-113.
Cheruiyot, P. K., & Kwasira, J. (2013). Challenges of devolving Human Resource Function in Kenya: A case study of Nakuru County. Proceedings of JKUAT –SHRD Research Conference.
Gerhart, B., & Rynes, S. L. (2023). Compensation: Theory, evidence, and strategic implications (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications.
Hassan, M. (2022). Turnover intention in Kenya's public sector. Journal of African Business, 23(1), 45-60.
Hobfoll, S. E. (1989). Conservation of resources: A new attempt at conceptualizing stress. American Psychologist, 44(3), 513–524.
Hom, P. W., Lee, T. W., & Mitchell, T. R. (2023). Turnover and retention research: A glance at the past, a closer look at the present, and a venture into the future. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 10, 147–176.
Jiang, L., Liu, X., & Zhao, M. (2023). Perceptions of salary structure fairness and employee turnover intention: An empirical study. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 44(2), 179-198.
Luu, T. T. (2021). Socially responsible HRM and organizational identification: The role of HR audits. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 59(4), 567–589.
Mobley, W. H. (1977). Intermediate linkages in the relationship between job satisfaction and employee turnover. Journal of Applied Psychology, 62(2), 237–240.
Munyiri, E., & Ndung’u, J. (2021). Labor market dynamics in Kenya. Kenyan Journal of Economics, 15(2), 89-104.
Rana, M. H., & Malik, M. S. (2017). Impact of human resource (HR) practices on organizational performance: Moderating role of Islamic principles. International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, 10(2), 186-207.
Sultana, N., & Modak, P. C. (2013). Comparison between Public and Private Pay Structures in Bangladesh. Journal of Science Foundation, 8(1-2), 89–96.
Kafunah, F., Kipsang, S., & Bor, J. (2025). The Moderating Effect of Human Resource Audit on the Relationship between Salary Structure and Turnover Intention: Evidence from Nairobi County Government, Kenya. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(9), 513-516.
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode