Across the globe, governments at national, regional and local levels are currently facing unprecedented challenges as they strive to shape a high performing, high integrity, dynamic and citizen-centred public service. Consequently, in a bid to reform the public sector performance with a view of ensuring timely and efficient service delivery to the public, governments have resorted to the adoption and implementation of various strategic initiatives. However, the determinants of implementation of government strategic initiatives remained largely untested. In view of this, the current study sought to assess the determinants of implementation of National Government strategic initiatives by the Ministries of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs and Labour and Social Protection in Kenya. Specifically, the study evaluated the effects of leadership, communication, organization culture and organizational structure on implementation of National Government strategic initiatives by the Ministries of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs and Labour and Social Protection in Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population of the study was 300 employees of the Ministries of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs as well as Labour and Social Protection in Kenya who were directly involved in coordinating the implementation of two of Kenya’s strategic initiatives - the Huduma Kenya and the cash transfer programs. The study sample size of 90 respondents was selected using stratified random sampling technique. A self-administered questionnaire was used as the data collection instrument. In data analysis, the study data was analyzed through descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 23.0). The study also conducted multiple regression analysis to test the relationship between the study variables with the findings presented in tables and figures. The study established that the management employees were in agreement that the leadership set the goals and policies required for the implementation of the strategic initiatives (mean = 4.17); communication was critical to the successful implementation of national government strategic initiatives (mean = 4.25); a positive and constructive culture was necessary for successful implementation of government strategic initiatives (mean = 4.20) and that the organization structure served as a mechanism for coordination and unification of efforts of persons involved in the implementation of the government strategic initiatives (mean = 4.33). The study findings also revealed that there was a strong positive and significant association between leadership, communication, organization culture as well as organizational structure and implementation of National Government strategic initiatives by the Ministries of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs and Labour and Social Protection in Kenya as depicted by beta values of 0.769; 0.724; 0.653and 0.694 (with all having p<0.05), respectively. The study concluded that leadership, communication, organization culture and organizational structure in Government Ministries were core determinants of implementation of National Government strategic initiatives in Kenya. The study recommended that efforts should be taken to strengthen the nature of leadership, communication, organization culture and organizational structures in Government Ministries charged with implementing various national government strategic initiatives in Kenya.
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In-Text Citation: (Chimkono & Deya, 2019)
To Cite this Article: Chimkono, M. E. M., & Deya, J. (2019). Determinants of Implementation of National Government Strategic Initiatives in Kenya. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 9(10), 1047–1060.
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