Governance Practices By University Management Influencing Infrastructure Development In Public Universities In Central Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the governance practices by university management that influences infrastructure development in public universities in central Kenya. The study was guided by the following research objectives: adequacy of funds, policies and regulations, donor support and to examine how the universities’ internal resources influence development of infrastructure. The study used the social cohesion theory. The study employed a descriptive survey design. The target population of the study was the six public universities in the central region of the republic of Kenya which are Kenyatta University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Dedan Kimathi University, Karatina University, Murang’a University of Technology and Kirinyaga University. The census sampling method was used for sampling the vice chancellors and deputy vice chancellors of finance. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods were used. The study found out that: most of the respondents did not consider their institutions as having adequate funds to meet the infrastructure requirements though they had policies for infrastructural development. Most of the institutions had accessed donor support for infrastructure provision and they engaged in enterprise. The study recommends that: the management boards and university councils should innovate and employ public private partnerships as a medium of infrastructure financing. Universities should provide the requisite infrastructure before starting any new academic program. They should also ensure that they collaborate with development partners from other jurisdictions to enhance the synergy between industry and academia. Alternative revenues from the core mandates of the universities should be sought out by putting in place vibrant enterprise management programs to ensure that the businesses run by the institutions are modeled in the required manner and profits maximization should be the driving factor behind the businesses setup. This may ensure provision of optimal resources for infrastructure provision. The study suggests that research on corporate governance practices affecting infrastructure development in public secondary schools should be carried out to find out if similar situations prevail