Publication: Influence of ethical procurement practices on performance of Kitui county government, Kenya
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2024-07
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Mount Kenya University
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Abstract
The government has been making great efforts in averting the vices that have for long been
associated with the procurement processes within government entities in Kenya. Main
purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of ethical procurement practices on
performance of Kitui county government. The specific objectives of the study included: to
examine the influence of transparency practice on performance of Kitui county governments
in Kenya; to establish the extent to which accountability practice influence performance in
county governments in Kenya; to investigate how professionalism practice influence the
performance of Kitui county governments in Kenya and finally to determine the influence of
Competition in procurement on performance of Kitui county governments in Kenya. The
study was underpinned in three theories; principal-agency theory, systems theory and
utilitarianism theory. A descriptive research design was used and which employed both
quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The researcher used the sampling method to
sample all the 589 employees from seven departments as the total population. Data collection
tool was mainly a questionnaire which was administered by the researcher to the respondents.
These responses were therefore analyzed using SPSS software version 24 in order to draw
results from them. The correlation and multiple regression analysis were conducted and the
results presented in the form of frequency distribution table and charts upon which
conclusions were done. To ensure the reliability of our findings, the researcher applied the
internal consistency technique, leveraging Cronbach’s alpha. The findings indicate that there
existed a positive and significant relationship between transparency practice and overall
performance of employees in Kitui County government, Kenya with coefficient of
correlation ( r = 0.617, p = 0.000). It was also observed that accountability practice has a
positive relationship with performance of procurement process in Kitui County government,
Kenya with coefficient of correlation ( r = 0.107, p = 0.000). The results established that
professionalism practice has a significant positive relationship with performance of
procurement practitioners in Kitui County government, Kenya with coefficient of correlation
(r = 0.377, p = 0.000). Finally the findings indicated that there was a slightly significant
positive relationship between competition practice and employees’ perfomance in Kitui
County government, Kenya with coefficient of correlation (r = 0.017, p = 0.000). It was
therefore concluded that; the procurement process needs to embrace transparency,
competition, accountability and professionalism. The study recommended that procurement
rules and regulations should be put into place and strictly adhered in every step of the
tendering process to ensure transparency. Procurement officers should be given enough room
to make their own independent decisions without any undue influence from their seniors to
ensure accountability. Employees should be trained regularly in their areas of specialization
and later given room to exercise that what they have trained in. regular reviews of their
performance should also be undertaken to enhance performance. To increase on competition,
there should be no collusion between procurement officers and the contractors and also senior
officers should not influence the outcome of the tendering process.
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Keywords
Government, Principal-agency theory, Procurement, Accountability, Transparency