Implication of Public Policy Implementation Process on Service Delivery in the County Government of Kilifi, Kenya

Abstract

Policy implementation is paramount as far as service delivery is concerned. Proper policy implementation ensures improved service delivery within any sector, be it private or public. In addition, the implementation process determines the extent to which the policy enhances service delivery. Thus, the main objective of this study was to establish the implications of public policy implementation on service delivery in the county government of Kilifi, Kenya. Two theories guided the study; they include the theory of citizen involvement and the goal-setting theory. This study used a correlational research design. The target population was all county departments, which included water, environment, and natural resources; trade, tourism, and cooperative development; culture, gender, youth sports, and social services; finance and economic planning; health services department; lands and physical planning; and the department of Agriculture within Kilifi County headquarters. The respondents were workers from these departments, members of the county assembly, and members of the general public, totaling 156. Also, there were four key informants. This made a total of 160 respondents. The researcher adopted the Taro Yamane formula (1967) to calculate the sample size, which was 112 respondents. The data collection tools used were the questionnaire and key informant interview (KII). The questionnaire contained both close-ended and open-ended questions. The study employed content validity to ascertain the validity of the instrument using expert opinion and the input of the supervisor. A pilot test was conducted to ascertain the competency and reliability of the instrument where a Cronch bar alpha was calculated at a threshold of 0.7. This study employed descriptive and inferential statistics for quantitative data analysis. Furthermore, regression and correlation analysis were done on the data collected to establish the relationship between variables. The results revealed the existence of a weak but significant positive correlation between stakeholder engagement and service delivery (r =.513, pvalue =.002). A moderate but significant positive relationship existed between public participation and service delivery (r =.565, pvalue =.006). A strong, significant, and positive association between the implementation framework and service delivery (r =.637, pvalue =.000) and lastly, a weak but significant positive relationship between the policy evaluation plan and service delivery (r =.475, pvalue =.005) in the county Thus, the results revealed that stakeholder engagement, public participation, implementation framework, and policy evaluation plan positively and significantly enhance service delivery. The study recommends the development of a better public policy implementation process, which is a significant predictor of county performance and hence better service delivery. The study did not, however, consider the moderating and mediating influences. So, studies can be done that look at the effect of moderation and the effect of mediation on the relationship.