FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION AND PERFORMANCE OF PROCUREMENT IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS IN KENYA; CASE OF EMBU COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Abstract

Using the Embu County Government as a case study, this research establishes the effects of functional integration on the performance of public procurement in Kenyan government agencies. Slow progress has been made despite government attempts to set the technical infrastructure for electronic procurement. An integral part of electronic procurement, the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) has only been adopted by a small percentage of counties by 2014. The Specific Objectives were to assess the effect of budgetary allocation on performance of public procurement in County Government of Embu, to evaluate the effect of top management support on performance of public procurement in County Government of Embu, to evaluate how staff competence affects performance of public procurement in County Government of Embu and to assess the effect of Information technology infrastructure on performance of public procurement in County Government of Embu with a broad focus on Kenyan public institutions and the County Government of Embu as an example, this study aimed to determine the effects of technology integration on procurement performance. More specifically, it sought to determine the effect of funding, managerial backing, employee skills, and IT infrastructure on procurement performance in the County Government of Embu. The Resource-Based View Theory, the Information Systems Success Theory, and the Innovation Diffusion Theory are three theories serve as the foundation for this study. This study made use of a descriptive research design. Three hundred workers were the intended subjects of the research. Collectively, these ideas provide a robust basis for understanding and assessing the event under investigation. A mix of qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys were used to gather data from suppliers, government officials, procurement officers, and other pertinent stakeholders. The County Government of Embu used a purposive sampling technique to choose its target population. While inferential analysis looked for connections between technology adoption and the highlighted parts of the purchasing process, descriptive analysis summed up and explained the findings. Surveys that participants filled out on their own time were used to gather information. Various quantitative and qualitative techniques were employed. Using SPSS software, descriptive and inferential statistics were evaluated. The study found that the proficiency of the personnel had a significant impact on the success of the procurement process. Staff members with the necessary skills are more likely to handle supplier relationships efficiently, negotiate favorable contracts, and follow all applicable procurement requirements. In order to keep procurement departments' skill levels high, the results demonstrate the importance of ongoing training and professional development. Even the most competent employees may fall behind in the rapidly developing field of procurement if they have not received sufficient training. The Embu County Government should address this by providing procurement professionals with ongoing training and development opportunities. Procurement officers require specialized training in areas including strategic supplier management, procurement legislation, and new technology. On top of that, keeping procurement professionals abreast of industry best practices is another benefit of fostering a culture of lifelong learning. Although this study has shed light on the elements impacting the County Government of Embu's procurement performance, there are still a number of topics that require more investigation. First, future studies could explore the impact of external factors such as political influence, economic instability, and legislative changes on procurement performance. Political instability and frequent regulatory changes can disrupt procurement processes, leading to inefficiencies that were not fully explored in this study.