Improving capacity for knowledge management in county governments: Perspectives from selected counties in Kenya

Abstract

While several studies have indicated the critical role played by a country’s ability to exploit knowledge as an economic resource, very few studies can be traced to understanding the practices of County Government in exploiting knowledge especially in Africa. The purpose of this study was to investigate the current knowledge management practices and technological solutions employed by County Governments in Kenya to support knowledge management. Based on interviews with senior and junior County officials and qualitative data analysis, the study findings revealed that there were no systematic knowledge management practices in existence within the surveyed County Governments. The few knowledge management practices identified were isolated, informal and uncoordinated; they were neither documented nor communicated. Furthermore, the existing policy frameworks to support knowledge management practices were inadequate. The study also revealed scarcity of relevant technological solutions tailored to support knowledge management practices. This research provides an advancing understanding of the prevailing local challenges hindering effective utilization of knowledge management practices and systems.