INFLUENCE OF ETHICAL LEADERSHIP PRACTICES ON CORRUPTION CONTROL IN DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC PLANNING, GARISSA COUNTY GOVERNMENT, KENYA.

Abstract

The study aimed to assess the influence of ethical leadership practices on corruption control in the Department of Finance and Economic Planning of the Garissa County Government, Kenya. The study specifically sought to; assess influence of leadership integrity on corruption control in department of finance and economic planning in Garissa county government, Kenya; examine influence of leadership transparency on corruption control in department of finance and economic planning in Garissa county government, Kenya; determine influence of leadership accountability mechanisms on corruption control in department of finance and economic planning in Garissa county government, Kenya. The study was anchored on institutional theory. The target population comprised of 159 employees from Senior, Middle and Operational levels within the department. A census approach to sampling was used since the population is small and manageable. A structured questionnaire of closed-ended Likert-scaled items were utilized. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics as well as inferential statistics were used. The findings confirmed that all three ethical leadership dimensions significantly and positively predict corruption control within the department. Leadership integrity emerged as the most influential predictor (β = 0.412; p = 0.003), followed by leadership accountability mechanisms (β = 0.273; p = 0.036) and leadership transparency (β = 0.251; p = 0.041). The study concluded that ethical leadership practices significantly influence corruption control in the Department of Finance and Economic Planning, Garissa County Government. Leadership integrity emerged as the strongest predictor (β = 0.412; p = 0.003), followed by leadership accountability mechanisms (β = 0.273; p = 0.036) and leadership transparency (β = 0.251; p = 0.041), with the combined model explaining 62.6% of the variance in corruption control. The study recommends that the Garissa County Government institutionalize a compulsory integrity framework for senior finance officers, implement an open budget policy requiring public disclosure of financial records on a digital platform, and establish a formal whistleblower protection policy to strengthen accountability. Additionally, a structured leadership development program should be introduced to build ethical capacity among middle-level officers.