Factors Affecting Implementation of Preference and Reservation Procurement Policy in State Corporations in Kenya: A Case of Kenya Railways Corporation

Abstract

In the recent past, public procurement in Kenya has undergone numerous reforms consistent with the global trends since 1990s. In Kenya’s public procurement Act, one of the objectives is to facilitate promotion of local industry and economic development. Towards this end The Public procurement and Disposal (Preference and Reservation) Regulations, 2011 was issued opening up window of opportunities for specified target groups. The study sought to establish the factors that have made it difficult for State Corporation to Implement the Preference and Reservation Procurement policies despite an enabling environment and political support provided by the Government. The specific objectives were to establish how ICT, legislative framework, organizational structure and procurement staff professionalism influence the implementation of preference and reservation scheme in State Corporations in Kenya. The target population was 185 employees at Kenya Railways Corporation headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. The sample size was 63 employees. The study used a multivariate regression model to predict the relationship between the dependent variable and the independent variables. The results indicated that procurement staff professionalism and legislative framework positively and significantly affects the implementation of preference and reservation Scheme in State Corporations. Additionally, the study indicated that organization culture affects implementation of preference and reservation Scheme in State Corporations positively and significantly. The study recommended the Kenya Railways Corporation to improve on there is compatibility of ICT infrastructure with that of the targeted special group organisations. There is also need for improvement of accessibility of information using online platforms provided by Kenya Railways. The study recommends for procurement staff to improve knowledge on procurement regulation regarding preference and reservations.  

Keywords: ICT, Professionalism, Organizational Culture, Legislative Framework, Preference and Reservation Procurement Policy