In devolution, financial decentralization and political decentralization have been advocated as powerful means for improving the service delivery in many developing countries. This study attempted to examine the association between financial decentralization, political decentralization and service delivery. The data used was derived from 275 government officials drawn from 8 county governments in Kenya. Service delivery was measured by accessibility of services, efficiency of services, quality of services and citizen satisfaction in relation to water, health, rural roads, and sewer services. Using regressions analysis (enter method), the study found significant positive relationship between financial decentralization and service delivery in county governments in Kenya. In addition, the study also revealed that political decentralization significantly and positively influences service delivery in county governments in Kenya. Based on the finding, the paper concluded that financial decentralization and political decentralization positively influences service delivery. This paper recommends that for improved service delivery in a devolved government, there is need to enhance political and financial decentralization. The paper further recommends that there was need for central governments to increase funding to the county governments in order to enhance service delivery.
Abdumlingo, H., and Mwirigi, M. F. (2014). Challenges of managing devolved funds in the delivery of services: A case study of Mombasa county. International journal of research in commerce & management, 5(5), 1-4.
Abe, T., and Monisola, O. J. (2014). Citizen Participation and Service Delivery at the Local Government Level: A Case of Ise/Orun Local Government In Ekiti State, Nigeria. Journal of Law, Policy and Globalization, 27, 102-110.
Adam, A., Delis, M. D., and Kammas, P. (2012). Fiscal decentralization and public sector efficiency: Evidence from OECD countries. Munich Personal RePEc Archive.
Akorsu, P. K. (2015). An evaluation of the effectiveness of revenue mobilisation in the public sector of Ghana the case of cape coast metropolitan assembly. International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management, 3(1), 1-16.
Awortwi, N. (2011). An unbreakable path? A comparative study of decentralization and local government development trajectories in Ghana and Uganda. International Review of Administrative Sciences Quarterly, 77(2), 347–377.
Babbie, E. R. (1990). Survey research methods 2nd Ed. . Belmont, CA, Wadsworth. Babbie, E. R. (2004). Survey Research Methods. Belmont, C.A. Wadsworth.
Balunywa, W., Nangoli, S., Mugerwa, G. W., Teko, J., and Mayoka, K. G. (2014). An analysis of fiscal decentralization as a strategy for improving revenue performance in Ugandan Local governments Journal of Research in International Business and Management, 4(2), 28-36.
Brucker, M., Kubica, K., Kway, M., Sizomu, A. A., and Teti, C. (2011). Decentralisation, social accountability and family planning services :The cases of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. 2nd International Conference on Family Planning: Research and Best Practices. November 29 – December 2, 2011, Dakar, Senegal.
Bryman, A., and Bell, E. (2007). Business Research Methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Busemeyer, M. R. (2008). The Impact of Fiscal Decentralization on Education and Other Types of
Spending. Swiss Political Science Review, 14(3), 451-481.
Carlson, C., Lamalle , J., Fustukian, S., Katy, N., Sibbons, M., and Sondorp, E. (2005). Improving the Delivery of Health and Education Services in Difficult Environments: Lessons from Case Studies, DFID Health Systems Resource Centre. London.
Constitution of Kenya. (2010). The Constitution of Kenya. Nairobi. Government printer.
Cooper, D. R., and Schindler, P. S. (2006). Business Research Methods (9th ed. ). New York: McGraw- Hill.
Cox, K. R. (2009). Rescaling the state’ in question Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economies and Societies, 2, 107–121.
Diaz-Serrano, L., and Rodriguez-Pose, A. (2014). Decentralization and the Welfare State:What Do Citizens Perceive? Munich Personal RePEc Archive.
Diaz-Serrano, L., and Rodríguez-Pose, A. (2012). Decentralization, subjective wellbeing,and the perception of institutions. Kyklos, 65(2), 179–193.
Eigema, J. (2007). Service Delivery, a Challenge for Local Governments, VNG International, www.vng-international.nl.
Elhiraika, A. B. (2007). Fiscal decentralization and Public service Delivery in South Africa. WIP 58.
African Trade Policy Centre.
Enikolopov, R., and Zhuravskaya, E. (2007). Decentralization and political institutions. Journal of Public Economics, 91, 2261-2290.
Falleti, G. T. (2004). A sequential theory of decentralisation and its effects on: The intergovernmental balance of power: Latin American Cases in comparative perspective. Working Paper, Kellogg Institute.
Falleti, T. G. (2005). A sequential theory of decentralisation: Latin American cases in comparative perspective. The American Political Science Review, 99(3), 327-346.
Faust, J., and Barbers, I. (2012). On the local politics of administrative decentralization: applying for policy responsibilities in ecuador. Publius: J. Federalism, 42, 52-77.
Freinkman, L., and Plekhanov, A. (2009). Fiscal decentralisation and the quality of public services in Russian regions. Working Paper No. 111.
Grindle, M. (2007). Going local: decentralization, democratization, and the promise of good governance. New Jersey: Princeton University press.
Hasnain, Z. (2010). Devolution, Accountability, and Service Delivery in Pakistan The Pakistan Development Review, 49(2), 129-152.
Kim, A. (2008). Decentralization and the Provision of Public Services: Framework and implementation.
. Policy Research Working Paper 4503,World Bank Capacity Building, Partnership and Outreach Team. Washington DC: World Bank.
Kobia, M., and Bagaka, O. (2014). Separation of powers in Kenya’s devolved administrative system: Opportunities and challenges. Commonwealth Governance Handbook.
Kothari, C. R. (2004). Research Methodology : Methods and Techniques. Mumbai: New Age International (P) Ltd.
Kothari, C. R., and Garg, G. (2014). Research Methodology : Methods and Techniques. Mumbai: New Age International (P) Ltd.
Kumar, S., and Prakash, N. (2012). Political Decentralization, Women’s Reservation and Child Health Outcomes: A Case Study of Rural Bihar. Working paper,International Growth Center.
Kyriacou, A. P., and Roca-Sagale's, O. (2011). Fiscal and political decentralization and government quality. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 29, 204-223.
Lobao, L., Martin, R., and Rodrigeuz-Pose, A. (2009). Editorial:rescaling the state new modes of institutional-territorial organisation Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economies and Societies, 2, 3-12.
Masanyiwa, Z. S., Niehof, A., and Termeer, C. J. A. M. (2012). Institutional arrangements for decentralized water and health services delivery in rural Tanzania: differences and constraints. Basic Research Journal of Social and Political Sciences, 1(4).
Mason, R. D., Lind, D. A., and Marchal, W. G. (1999). Sttistical Techiques in Business and E conomics.
Mitchell, A., and Bossert, T. J. (2010). Decentralisation, Governance and Health- System Performance: ‘Where You Stand Depends on Where You Sit’. Development Policy Review, 28(6), 669-691.
Mugenda, O. M., and Mugenda, A. G. (2003). Research Methods: Quantitative & Qualitative Approaches. Nairobi: African Centre for Technology Studies Press.
Muriu, A. R. (2012). Decentralization, citizen participation and local public service delivery.
(Masters), Universitätsverlag Potsdam.
Mwangi, E. K. (2015). Employees’ Perception of Determinants of The Effectiveness of Performance Contracting on Service Delivery in Local Authorities in Kenya. (Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Nir, A. E., and Kafle, B. S. (2013). The effect of political stability on public education quality.
International Journal of Educational Management, 27(2), 110-126.
Obicci, P. A. (2014). Political Decentralization and Service Delivery: Evidence from Agago District, Uganda. The Ugandan Journal of Management and Public Policy Studies, 8(1), 1- 14.
Olatona, J. B., and Olomola, P. A. (2015). Analysis of Fiscal Decentralization and Public Service Delivery in Nigeria. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 6(9).
Ozmen, A. (2014). Notes to the concept of decentralization. European Scientific Journal, 10(10).
Pallant, J. F. (2011). SPSS Survival Manual: A step by step guide to data analysis using SPSS (4th ed.). . Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin.
Rodríguez-Pose, A., and Krøijer, A. (2009). Fiscal decentralisation and economic growth in Central and Eastern Europe. London School of Economics and Political Science LEQS Paper no. 12.
Saavedra, P. A. (2010). A Study of the Impact of Decentralization on Access to Service Delivery. (Doctor in Philosophy in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies and the School of Public Policy), Georgia State University.
Saunders, M., Lewis, P., and Thornhill, A. (2007). Research methods for business students (4th ed.). Essex: Pearson Education.
Sekaran, U. (2009). Research Methods for Business : A skill Building Approach. ( 4th ed. ). New Delhi: Wiley India Pvt Ltd.
Shen, C., and Zou, H.-f. (2015). Fiscal Decentralization and Public Services Provision in China.
Annals of Economics and Finance, 16(1), 53-78.
Sow, M., and Razafimahefa, I. F. (2015). Fiscal Decentralization and the Efficiency of Public Service Delivery. International Monetary Fund.
Sujarwoto, S. (2012). Political decentralization and local public services performance in Indonesia. Journal of Public Administration and Governance, 2(3).
Transparency International. (2014). A national opinion poll on devolution and governance in Kenya.
Triesman, D. (2007). The Architecture of Government. Rethinking Political Decentralization, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Uchimura, H., and Jütting , J. (2007). Fiscal Decentralisation, Chinese Style: Good For Health Outcomes. OECD Development Centre, Working Paper No. 264, (November), 1-23.
Wei-qing, L., and Shi, C. (2010). Fiscal Decentralization and Public Education Provision in China.
Canad?an Soc?al Sc?ence, 6(4), 28-41.
Yilmaz, S., Beris, Y., and Serrano-Berthet, R. (2008). Local Government Discretion and Accountability:A Diagnostic Framework for Local Governance Local Governance & Accountability Series.
Yusoff, M. A., Sarjoon, A., Awang, A., and Efendi, D. (2016). Conceptualizing Decentralization and its Dimensions. International Business Management, 10(6), 692-701.
Wagana, D. M., Iravo, M. A., Nzulwa, J. D., & Kihoro, J. M. (2016). Effect of Financial and Political Decentralization on Service Delivery in County Governments in Kenya. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 6(6), 281-310.
Copyright: © 2016 The Author(s)
Published by Human Resource Management Academic Research Society (www.hrmars.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