CONSULTATIVE PARTICIPATION AND PERFORMANCE OF INDEPENDENT REGULATORY AGENCIES IN KENYA

Abstract

Independent regulatory agencies in Kenya have been characterized by a variation in their performances in the last few years yet they play a vital role in their respective sectors.   This has been attributed to the aspect of poor leadership among other contributory factors. This study therefore, sought to establish the influence of consultative participation on performance of independent regulatory agencies and investigate the moderating effect of resource mobilization on the relationship between consultative participation and performance of independent regulatory agencies. The study adopted descriptive correlational research design and used the positivism research paradigm. The unit of analysis was each of the 48 independent regulatory agencies in Kenya, while the unit of observation were the top management level and lower cadre employees within each of the 48 independent regulatory agencies. The target population for this study was 336 employees within the top management and the lower cadre.  The overall sample size for this study was determined using Yamane’s formula which obtained 183 respondents. The study employed stratified random sampling to select the study sample. Primary data was used and was collected using questionnaires. Questionnaires were pilot tested on 18 respondents to test for reliability and validity of the data collection instrument. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29 software. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented in tables and figures. The study also computed correlation and regression analyses to test the relationship between the study variables and hypotheses. The study found out that there is a positive significant relationship between performance of independent regulatory agencies in Kenya and consultative participation. Additionally, resource mobilization was found to have a strong positive moderating effect on the relationship between consultative participation and performance of independent regulatory agencies in Kenya.  Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that independent regulatory agencies in Kenya consider the adoption of consultative participation strategies and creates policies that aim to enhance resource mobilization and curb resource wastage.

Keywords: consultative participation, performance, resource mobilization, top management, lower cadre, positivism.