Enforcement of Ethical Standards among Employees and Public Services Delivery at Bomet County Government, Kenya.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2025-11
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
The enforcement of ethical standards within public service delivery is a critical issue that significantly influences the effectiveness and efficiency of government operations. In recent years, ethical lapses such as corruption, mismanagement, and lack of accountability have raised public concern regarding the quality of services offered by county governments. These unethical practices not only erode public trust but also impede the development and well-being of communities. This study sought to examine the effect of enforcement of ethical standards among employees on public service delivery in Bomet County Government, Kenya. The specific objectives were to: examine the effect of compliance with laws among employees on public service delivery; assess the effect of regular monitoring among employees on public service delivery; and determine the effect of implementation of ethics training programs among employees on public service delivery in Bomet County. The study was guided by the Institutional Theory and Agency Theory. A descriptive research design was adopted, targeting a population of 165 employees working at the Bomet County Headquarters, comprising 15 heads of departments, 25 directors, and 125 frontline service providers. The sample size of 120 respondents was determined using the Yamane (1967) formula, and participants were selected through stratified random sampling to ensure proportional representation across departments. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires. A pilot study involving 12 respondents (approximately 10% of the sample size) was conducted to test the research instrument. Content validity was ensured through expert review by two university research supervisors and one ethics specialist, while construct validity was checked through alignment of questionnaire items with study objectives. The reliability of the instrument was evaluated using Cronbach’s Alpha, with a reliability coefficient threshold of 0.7 set as acceptable for internal consistency. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (means, percentages, and standard deviations) and inferential statistics (ANOVA and multiple regression analysis), while qualitative data were analyzed thematically and presented narratively. The findings revealed that compliance with laws, regular monitoring, and implementation of ethics training programs among employees had a positive and statistically significant effect on public service delivery, with p-values of 0.002, 0.002, and 0.004, respectively. The study concluded that compliance with laws promotes transparency and accountability among employees, regular monitoring enhances adherence to standards and timely correction of deviations, while implementation of ethics training fosters professionalism and ethical behavior. It was recommended that the county government strengthen and harmonize ethical frameworks, institutionalize continuous ethics training, and establish an independent ethical oversight unit to ensure consistent adherence to integrity and public service values.
Description
A Research Project Submitted to the School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration of Kenyatta University, November 2025.
Supervisors
David Minja