Strategic Training Practices and Reforms Implementation in the Kenya Police Service

Abstract

Strategic training plays an imperative role in the implementation of organizational strategies. Organisations are therefore encouraged to take a more a more strategic approach to training and align training with the strategic goals of the organization. However, despite the large literature body supporting the use of strategy-linked training, majority of organisations have done little effort in this direction. In most organisations, training programs and needs have little to do with the organisation’s strategic initiatives and goals. In Kenya, to streamline its operations and enhance accountability in the KPS several reforms have been instituted since 2003. Most of the KPS reforms among them; the integration of the administration police and the general duty officers, adoption of the integrated communication command and control centre, police infrastructure modernization as well as the implementation of new training curriculum among others are some of the reforms that have been successfully realised and operationalized. However, a number of reforms have not been fully and timely implemented and are still work in progress. This study sought to determine the relationship between strategic training practices and reforms implementation in the Kenya Police Service. The key theories guiding the study included the dynamic capabilities theory and the Institutional theory. The study adopted a case study research design and primary data was collected from the Kenya Police Service. The data was gathered using an interactive interview guide. The targeted interviewees were 13 senior administrators in the 13 Kenya Police Units. The gathered qualitative raw data was analyzed using content analysis where the generated responses was categorized based on identified themes and the study objectives. The findings revealed that effective learning and training portfolio diversification, expanding the training needs of officers, accelerating the pace of training, aligning training and development, communication of learning objectives, modifying the work environment to support learning and knowledge sharing and creation enhanced reforms implementation in the Police Service. The study concluded that strategic training practices enhances reforms implementation at the Kenya Police Service. The study recommends that the KPS continuously review the strategic training practices to aid in the implementation of pending reforms. The study also recommends that the KPS improves their communication of learning objectives, as well as modify the working environment to support learning and enhance reforms implementation. Lastly, the study recommends that KPS designs effective training strategies that align with strategic goals for enhanced implementation of the set targets and objectives.