Implementation of Strategies and Performance of County Assemblies in Kenya: A Case of Nyandarua County Assembly

Abstract

Implementation of strategies is a process that ensures actualization of strategic plans and results are achieved that add value to the organization. The county governments have been recording low performance rating in undertaking its mandates including oversight role and formulating legislation. There has been a slight increase in oversight role of the county governments and need to determine, what more can be done to enhance performance outcome. This study focused on strategy implementation and its effect on performances at the Nyandarua County Assembly. This research was guided by these specific objectives; resource allocation, communication, monitoring and evaluation and organizational leadership effects on performance of Nyandarua County Assembly. The study was anchored on the following theories; agency, resource based and balanced scorecard and dynamic capabilities theory. The adopted design was descriptive and the population targeted was 40 management team of the Nyandarua County Assembly and the 39 members of county assembly. The sample size of 66 respondents was reached by applying the Krejcie and Morgan formula. The study made use of firsthand information form the people who were there when the event took place. Data was then collected with questionnaire that were administered on a drop and pick basis. Validity and reliability was tested in the pilot study where there was generation Cronbach’s alpha to show the degree of reliability. The collected data was then analyzed descriptively hence producing means, frequencies and standard deviations and inferentially through correlation and regression that was computed. Content analysis was conducted on the open-ended questions and arranged per themes. The data analysis was done with the help of the SPSS version 25 tool and findings displayed in tables and charts. The findings from the regression analysis showed that 0.721 (72.1%) of the performance of the Nyandarua county assembly was due to implementation of strategies. The Pearson correlation analysis results are such that independent variables had positive and significant effects to performance. Resource allocation had the strongest link to performance with R value of 0.698, followed by organizational leadership at 0.644, then communication with r value of 0.510 and monitoring and evaluation had moderate effect with R values of 0.414. The results also show that all variables of implementation of strategies were positively correlated to performance based on the obtained p-values. The study then concluded that performance of Nyandarua county assembly was affected by implementation of strategies and its elements. The study, therefore recommends that Nyandarua county assembly and other county assemblies to adopt implementation of strategies as a way to improve their performance. The other counties can improve their performance outcomes through implementing its laid-down strategies as guided and directed by the leadership. Effective strategy implementation is also linked to capacity to access sufficient resources and initiating monitoring, evaluation and control measures that avoid wastage and loss and enhance productivity. Government departments and other organizations must have a good communication system that will improve information sharing that is an ingredient in implementation of strategies. There is also need for trainings and awareness creation to equip employees who in turn implement the strategies for the organization.