Challenges Of Implementation Of Strategic Plans At The National Authority For The Campaign Against Alcohol And Drug Abuse In Kenya

Abstract

NACADA is a state corporation established through an Act of Parliament and mandated to coordinate a multi-sectoral campaign against ADA in Kenya. Increase in wide spread abuse of alcohol and drugs use in Kenya is a great threat to realization of Vision 2030 which endeavors to transform Kenya into a middle income economy. Towards implementing its mandate, NACADA has applied strategic planning management in implementation of its anti ADA programs. This research project was a case study whose objective was to determine challenges of implementation of strategic plans at NACADA. Primary data was collected through interview guide instrument where eighteen respondents in NACADA management were interviewed. Content data analysis technique was used to analyze data collected. The study established that NACADA faced five major challenges in implementation of its strategic plan namely; inadequate financial and human resources, management wrangles, non-responsiveness to changes taking place in its operating environment, poor ownership of strategic plan by employees due to lack of clear understanding and organization structure that is not aligned to the strategic plan. Towards addressing these challenges, the study recommends that NACADA management finds new sources of income to enhance its limited financial resources. Additional income will enable NACADA to meet its budget towards supporting its anti ADA programs and facilitate recruitment of missing human talents. Management wrangles should also be urgently resolved for the Board and management to work as a team with common objective and purpose of achieving NACADA mandate. NACADA management also needs to be alive and proactive to changes taking places within its operating environment to ensure positive influence. NACADA members of staff who do not own the strategic planning process due to poor understanding need to be sensitized through regular meetings for them to understand, own up and support the plan. NACADA organization structure requires to be aligned with the strategic plan to make it appropriate thereby ensuring that all human competencies required for effective implementation of strategic plan are available.