Influence Of Human Capital Factors On Performance Of Devolved Governments In South Eastern Kenya Region

ABSTRACT

The study focused on the influence of human capital factors on performance of

devolved Governments in South Eastern Kenya region. The specific objectives of the

study were; to establish the influence of employee resourcing on organizational

performance of the devolved governments in South Eastern Kenya region, to examine

the influence of employee compensation on organizational performance of devolved

governments in South Eastern Kenya region, and to assess the influence of staff training

and development on organizational performance of devolved governments in South

Eastern Kenya region. The target population comprised county government of Kitui,

Machakos and Makueni senior staff numbering 179 members comprising County

Executive Committee Members, Chief Officers, County Directors and Deputy

Directors, Assistant Directors and Sub-county administrators within the County

ministries. A sample size of 59 county officials was randomly selected using stratified

simple random sampling techniques. Data was collected by the aid of a structured

questionnaire administered to the sample. The questionnaires were coded to enable

grouping of the different responses into categories. The study utilized Microsoft Excel

(2016) and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 21 for data analysis

and presentation. The data was analysed by use of descriptive and inferential statistics.

The analysed data was presented using figures and tables generated from the multiple

regression analysis conducted on the variables in order to establish the effect of human

capital factors on the performance of devolved governments of South Eastern Kenya

region. The findings of the study established that there is no statistically significant

influence of employee resourcing on performance of Machakos and Makueni county

governments. However, employee resourcing has a statistically significant influence on

the performance of Kitui county government. The evaluation of the influence of

employee compensation in the county governments of Kitui and Makueni established a

statistically significant influence of employee compensation on county government

performance. The study established a statistically significant relationship between staff

training and development and devolved governments’ performance in both Kitui and

Machakos. However for Makueni county government, staff training development has an

insignificant influence on the county government performance. However, the study

noted that there was no scholarship program in place for career development. The study

recommends an improvement in the conduct of employee resourcing to include current

trends that include use of softwares to track job applications, development of a mobile

recruitment strategy, increase the focus on passive and potential candidates, and a

growth in the emphasis for social networks. The study also recommends the

establishment of career advancement programmes to facilitate retention of top talents

and skills, boost productivity and engagement, generate knowledge and strengthen the

succession plan of the non-political roles. Finally, the study suggests further broadbased

research to be done on other human capital factors not considered in this study.

Future research can be done on the 47 counties in Kenya in order to deliver a reliable

generalization on the effect of human capital factors on the performance of devolved

governments in Kenya.