Performance based compensation practices at the national Police service in Kenya
Abstract
Studies all over the world have over the years indicated that performance based
compensation practices have been adopted to boost employee performance. Several other
studies have tackled the question of why this is so and a number of theories have been
developed to explain the same. The National Police Service in Kenya is faced with issues
of efficiency in operation, productivity and high staff turnover. Such issues must be dealt
with. The National Police Service in Kenya must implement motivational structures that
will attract, retain and motivate employees thus the objective of this study was to
determine performance based compensation practices at the National Police Service in
Kenya. The research design used was a case study. The study targeted all unit/formation
commanders at the National Police Service. An Interview guide was used to collect
primary data from the respondents. Content analysis was used to analyse the responses
from the interviews. The major findings of the study indicated that the National Police
Service practised performance based compensation even though they are specific to their
department. They also agreed that compensating officers for work done acted as a major
motivator in service delivery. The study concluded that the National Police Service
practised performance based compensation. The researcher, however, suggests that a
similar study be carried out targeting junior staff to get their perspective concerning the
issue. In summary, the study noted that all the unit/formation commanders stated that the
National Police Service practiced performance based compensation programs which were
specific for the police service. The researcher recommends that senior officers at the
National Police Service should take it as a primary responsibility for ensuring that there are
no barriers occasioned by organizational ranks whenever they plan and adopt any
performance based compensation policies.
Citation
Master of Business AdministrationPublisher
Unversity of Nairobi