Factors affecting recruitment and selection of staff in local authorities (Case of County Councils in Kericho County)

Abstract

This study sought and established the factors affecting recruitment and selection of staff in Kericho and Litein county councils. The importance of proper recruitment and selection were as follows first it helped in shaping an organizations effectiveness and performance. It also forms a core part of the central activities underlying human resources management namely the acquisition, development and reward of workers. It also avoided undesirable costs for example those associated with high staff turnover, poor performance and dissatisfied customers. Lastly the managers would be less distress in dealing with suitable employees. The broad objectives of the study were the factors affecting recruitment and selection of staff in Kericho / Litein county council. The specific objectives were:- to find out how comprehensive career development system affects recruitment / selection of staff, it examined the effect of recruitment policy or legislation on recruitment and selection of staff, it established the extent to which job specification and description is a factor to recruitment and selection and found out how human resource planning affected recruitment and selection of staff. The study benefitted various groups which included the government especially the ministry of local government for the purposes of policy making. It will also benefited HR managers and staff activities others who benefitted were the stakeholders of local authorities who would know how their county has been undertaking recruitment and selection. The study alerted the academic about HRM issues and warranted further research and lastly the findings of the study added to the existing body knowledge in the field of HRM. The study adopted a descriptive design to allow for the collection of a large amount on data. The population of the study was composed of all the employees of the two councils. These employees comprised of top management, middle level management and lower cadres staff. The sample was drawn from the population through stratified random sampling and the sample size consisted employees. Primary data were collected using questionnaire were self administered. Data collected were checked for completeness and consistency before analysis is done. Data were analyzed through descriptive analysis. The findings were presented in the form of frequency distribution, tables, bar graphs and pie charts. At the end of the study, the researcher established that policy / legislation policy, job description and specification, comprehensive career development system and HR planning affected recruitment and selection of staff of Kericho and Litein town councils. The findings of the study were discussed and interpreted on the basis of the research questions. Further conclusion was drawn from the findings and finally recommendations were made for future replicative research.