INFLUENCE OF INTER-GROUP CONFLICT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT PROJECTS IN BUSIA COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Management of organizational conflicts has become essential in the implementation of projects in both National and County Governments in Kenya. It is therefore important for continuous research studies in this area given its’ importance to national development. The purpose of the study was to establish the influence of inter-group conflict on implementation of County Government projects in Busia County.  The study adopted Descriptive design with a target population of 127 employees of Busia County. The sample size of 127 was selected using census technique. Questionnaires were the main data collection instrument. The raw data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentages while inferential statistics such as regression and correlation analyses were used to determine the relationship between the study variables. The findings were presented in tabular form. The findings of the study showed that inter-group conflicts had positive, linear and significant (p-value of less than 0.05) influence on the project implementation of County Government of Busia. The conclusions of the study indicated that inter-group conflicts explained 12.1% of variance in the project implementation of County Government of Busia. That is explained by inter-group conflict that accounted for 13.4% variations in the project implementation of County Government of Busia. The study recommends to the management of the County Government of Busia to invest more and train its staff on influence of inter-group conflicts and how these affect implementations of the projects. Organizations should come up with strategies on handling inter-group conflicts since it has adverse influence on the implementation of projects in the County Governments in Kenya

Key Words: Project, Implementation, Conflict, Inter-group