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Slaying the Dragon of Corruption: Application of Multiple-Streams Framework in Anticorruption Policy Processes in Devolved Systems of Government in Kenya
(International Public Policy Association, 2024) Mwangi,Justa; Muna, Wilson
Public sector corruption is often defined as the abuse of public office for private gain (Alfano, Baraldi, & Cantabene, 2020). Scholars who support this definition argue that public office provides ideal breeding ground for certain types of corruption, such as embezzlement and bribery (Prasetyono, 2019). This paper focuses on embezzlement and bribery as they are of particular concern in Africa. It is estimated that Africa loses over U.S $ 50 billion annually to embezzlement, despite being the second fastest growing economic region in the world (World Bank, 2020). Africa is also home to some of the world’s most impoverished people who are forced to fork out bribes to access government services (Chalil, 2020). In Kenya, embezzlement and bribery have been identified as one of the greatest threats to public service delivery in the devolved governments (Opalo, 2020). A study carried out by Kenya’s Ethics and Anticorruption Commission found that 63% of Kenyans have to pay bribes to access county health facilities, 59% have to pay bribes to access water and sanitation, 58% have to pay bribes to access markets, and 57% have to pay bribes to access trade licenses within Kenya’s devolved governments (EACC, 2015). 2 Although policy makers view devolution as an anticorruption strategy, there is growing evidence that corruption poses a significant threat to the delivery of public services in many devolved jurisdictions (Mulyaman, Ismail, & Raya, 2019). Evidence from various Slaying the Dragon of Corruption: Application of Multiple-Streams Framework i... International Review of Public Policy, 6:3 | 2024 1 studies shows that corruption undermines the redistributive nature of public services, forcing the poor to shoulder a disproportionate burden, thus creating inequalities in society, exacerbating poverty, and causing an overall adverse effect on human development (Plotica, 2017). This problem is compounded by the absence of formal theoretical models within the anticorruption decision-making processes that would lead to successful outcomes within devolved governments (Chalil, 2020). Thus, scholars call for more empirical studies to delve into the complexities inherent in anticorruption policy processes within devolved governments and the state and nonstate actors involved (Boone, et al., 2019). 3 Current approaches to tackle anticorruption in the public sector have been influenced by scholarly views that look at corruption as a principal-agent problem, thus focusing policy efforts on integrity measures, strengthening institutions, training, and legislation (Brierley, 2019). The UN Convention against Corruption borrows from this tradition by emphasizing criminalization and law enforcement, which many countries currently use as a template for fighting corruption. Unfortunately, these approaches are based on interventionism (arresting the culprit after the corrupt act) and managerialism (tightening systems, procedures, and protocols to seal loopholes of corruption). They have been criticized for being based on western experiences and the exceptional case studies of Hong Kong and Singapore (Wickberg, 2018). They have also raised ideological concerns of the high moral ground taken by proponents of corruption policy agendas, especially those coming from the west and being pushed to third world countries (Arce & Hendricks, 2019). Critics argue that the corruption discourse and measures to fight it are highly western-centric and riddled with ideological interests of a capitalist and neoliberal economic agenda that promotes and legitimizes epistemological claims about corruption that are fundamentally westerncentric (Andersen, Johannesen, & Rijkers, 2020). For example, the function of the global corruption perceptions index is seen as legitimizing the corruption combating measures that western countries have placed on developing countries with the aim of eliminating obstacles to the free flow of capital (Andersen, Johannesen, & Rijkers, 2020). 4 Further, a growing body of literature is showing that anticorruption efforts are failing globally, in spite of high-level prosecutions that have targeted public officials, particularly in the third world. This has been blamed on current anticorruption policymaking approaches, which have been mainly informed by the principal-agent approach and tend to target the demand side of corruption (public officials) and mostly ignore the demand side (business/public) (Nguyen & Luong-Montenegrin, 2020). Other studies show that communities such as businesses and civil society, welcome corruption in certain contexts as the solution to easing the burden of bureaucratic bottlenecks, thus saving time and boosting their revenues (Nguyen & LuongMontenegrin, 2020). This view is not surprising given that many corruption studies have been approached from a functionalist and rational theory viewpoint, which tends to view corruption as how things are done (jumping bureaucratic hurdles). This approach has however received criticism for being tautological, as it does not rend itself to explanations on when corruption is functional (or not) (Smartis, 2018). It also does not explain why some people are corrupt and others are not, and what kinds of problems might be more amenable to corrupt solutions (Smartis, 2018). Slaying the Dragon of Corruption: In the absence of robust empirical evidence, Kenya’s attempts to deal with corruption have followed global trends by adopting a managerialism and interventionist approach. This has involved criminalizing corruption, tightening procedures, and arresting the culprits. At the national level, Kenya has attempted to increase public sector wages and privatize public services, but this has not yielded the desired results and has exacerbated corruption (Boone, et al., 2019). Evidence from the Kenyan counties (devolved governments) shows that efforts to combat corruption have not been rigorous, as current practices rely on faulty, anecdotal corruption indexes and politicized interventions (Opalo, 2020). For instance, when we look at county level policy instruments in Kenya, we find that they borrow from the rational theory approach and thus concentrate on managerialism and deterrent measures as anticorruption mechanisms (Mackey, 2019). Since different stakeholders such as the state, business and civil society have varying agendas with regard to the corruption situation, the resulting policy instruments at the county level will be the result of the actor(s) best able to lobby their case. 6 Despite this state of affairs, there is hardly any scholarly work on anticorruption policymaking processes in Kenya. Analytical frameworks that have been used to explain anticorruption policymaking in Kenya have largely been informed by rational choice theory (Chege & Wang, 2020). This paper makes a departure from this by utilizing MSF to add analytical value as it allows us to explore policymaking under conditions of ambiguity (Hoefer, 2022). Since policymaking is the result of complex processes involving a myriad of actors and institutions who operate in varying social, political and economic contexts, this paper seeks to illuminate Kenya’s anticorruption policymaking complexities under such ambiguity. MSF is considered suitable as it overcomes problems raised in earlier rational actor models (Hoefer, 2021). As this paper is the result of a case study of two counties in Kenya, MSF was deemed appropriate as it has been particularly praised for being helpful in conducting case studies (Cairney & Jones, 2016). 7 The study’s research strategy aims to provide comparative perspectives on the MSF model and contribute to comparative scholarship, taking into account key institutional differences between other countries and Kenya, and in so doing, potentially provide insightful theoretical and empirical contributions that may contribute to theory making in Africa. The paper makes a departure from existing anticorruption approaches by applying MSF to fluid and unpredictable environments that lack sequence. It also looks at MSF’s applicability to anticorruption agenda setting, drawing on previous implementation and evaluation to explain why hard-hitting anticorruption policies do not enter the agenda. 8 Contextually, the paper focuses on Kiambu and Nairobi City counties, which are two devolved governments in Kenya. The multiple streams framework is relevant for devolved governments in Kenya as it was initially applied to the U.S which has a devolved system of government. In analyzing the framework’s transferability, the paper looks at the interplay between three critical actors: the state, business, and civil society, which have been identified from the literature on the multiple streams framework as playing varying roles within the problem, policy, and political streams (Cairney & Jones, 2016)
Policy Advisory System Actors or Policy Entrepreneurs? An Analysis of Policy Advice Quality in Kenya Anticorruption Policymaking
(Oxford University Press, 2025) Mwangi, Justa
This paper explores PAS actors and policy advice quality dynamics within anticorruption policymaking processes in Kiambu and Nairobi City counties, which are two devolved systems of government in
Kenya. It is based on empirical research that sought to determine the level of policy advice quality provided by three critical PAS actors—the state, business, and civil society. These actors were of particular
interest as they were mentioned in corruption scandals, linked to sycophancy as they sought to curry
favor, and exhibited signs of disengagement, due to frustrations within the policymaking process. The
study was framed within the multiple streams framework (MSF) and interrogated policy advice quality
through the SERVQUAL model of reliability, assurance, tangibles, empathy, and responsiveness. The
analytical strengths of MSF and SERVQUAL were considered suitable in Kenya’s context where corruption is systemic, in an effort to overcome the limitations of previous approaches that have looked at
corruption as a principal-agent problem. Two focus group discussions with key stakeholders were held
in each county. Sixty-three respondents from 10 strategic functions, 12 members of the public, and 24
suppliers from each county were interviewed. The results demonstrate the analytical capacity of MSF
and SERVQUAL, and provide a theoretical framework within which to ground third-generation policy
advice research. The paper addresses the main research problem of inadequate data from the global
south, and the lack of measurements for policy advice quality. It also contributes conceptual tools that
deepen our understanding by presenting MSF and SERVQUAL as useful models for consideration
Assessment of the Relationship Between Retained Earnings and Shareholder Value Creation: Perspectives from Listed Manufacturing Firms in Kenya
(African Journal of Emerging Issues (AJOEI), 2026-04) Florence, Teresa Wanjeri; Omagwa, Job; Musau, Salome
Purpose of Study: This study sought to analyze the effect of retained earnings on shareholder value in listed manufacturing firms in Kenya.
Problem Statement: Generating shareholder value remains a fundamental objective within the global corporate sphere, closely linked to corporate profitability. The manufacturing sector in Kenya contributes approximately 18% to the country’s GDP and creates employment to over 2.3 million individuals across both formal and informal sectors. However, these firms consistently struggles to create and maintain shareholder value over the past decade. Despite a reported increase in shareholder wealth on the NSE in 2019, much of this growth was concentrated within a few companies, with East Africa Breweries PLC being the only manufacturing firm among them.
Methodology: The study adopted a positivist philosophy and a causal research design. The target population included 21 listed manufacturing firms on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE). Secondary panel data for the period 2012–2023 was extracted from published financial statements and analyzed using Stata software, employing both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, panel regression, multiple regression analysis were employed to analyze the data.
Result: Retained earnings had positive and significant on shareholder value creation (β = 0.229617, p = 0.018 < 0.05), showing that reinvesting internal funds supports shareholder value.
Recommendation: Retained earnings should remain the primary source of funding for listed manufacturing firms, given their strong positive relationship with shareholder value. In addition, firms should adopt dividend policies that balance investor expectations with the need for reinvestment in core operations.
Short-Term Debt Financing and Shareholder Value: Evidence from Listed Manufacturing Firms in Kenya
(StratfordPeer Reviewed Journals and Book Publishing, 2026-04) Florence, Teresa Wanjeri; Omagwa, Job; Musau, Salome
Listed manufacturing firms in Kenya play a critical role in driving economic growth, contributing approximately 18% to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and creating over 2.3 million jobs in both formal and informal sectors. However, these firms have faced challenges in consistently generating shareholder value over the past decade, raising concerns about their ability to sustain value creation. While shareholder value has increased among listed firms in general, the performance of listed manufacturing firms remains notably weak. Previous studies investigating shareholder value have produced inconsistent findings, leaving uncertainty about how financial structure influences shareholder value in these firms. This study addresses this gap by examining how short-term debt financing affect shareholder value among listed manufacturing firms in Kenya. Anchored on the Modigliani and Miller Theory and the Trade-off Theory, the research adopts a positivist philosophy and a causal research design. The target population included 21 listed manufacturing firms on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE). Secondary panel data for the period 2012–2023 was extracted from published financial statements and analyzed using Stata software, employing both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques.The study found that short term debt had a positive and significant effect on shareholder value (β = 0.284519, p = 0.015 < 0.05), suggesting that efficient use of short term borrowing to support liquidity and operations enhances value.In view of the findings, the study recommends that managers and regulators should focus less on altering ownership structures and more on limiting costly long term borrowing, supportingworking capital discipline, and deliberately growing and redeploying retained earnings to drive shareholder value. In addition, policymakers, especially the National Treasury,Capital Markets Authority, and Nairobi Securities Exchange, should consider formulating financial policies that encourage manufacturing firms toadopt balanced financingapproaches.
Financial Practices and Program Efficiency of Non-Governmental Organizations in Nairobi City County, Kenya
(International Academic Journal of Economics and Finance (IAJEF), 2026-03) Mutua, Martin N.; Jagongo, Ambrose O.
The increasing demand for accountability and efficient utilization of donor funds has intensified pressure on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to enhance program performance. In Kenya, particularly in Nairobi City County, NGOs continue to face challenges related to financial management practices, which undermine program efficiency in resource-constrained and donor-dependent environments. Program inefficiencies have been linked to weak financial systems, poor resource allocation, and limited organizational capacity. While external funding uncertainties persist, financial practices remain a critical internal mechanism that NGOs can leverage to improve program outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the effect of financial practices on program efficiency among NGOs operating in Nairobi, Kenya. The specific objectives were to examine the effects of liquidity management, budgeting practices, financial reporting quality, and financial sustainability on program efficiency, as well as to assess the mediating role of resource allocation efficiency and the moderating role of organizational capacity in this relationship. The study was anchored on Agency Theory, Pecking Order Theory, and Financial Accountability Theory