Individual Characteristics Influencing Board Of Management Members’ Compliance With Procurement Regulations In Public Secondary Schools In Kirinyaga East Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing Board of Management members‟ compliance with procurement regulations in public secondary schools in Kirinyaga East sub-county, Kenya. The study was guided by the following objectives :to establish the influence of Board of Management members‟ level of sensitization on compliance to procurement regulations, to determine the influence of Board of Management members‟ exposure to training on compliance to procurement regulations, to establish the influence of Board of Management members‟ personal ethics on compliance to procurement regulations and to determine the influence of Board of Management members‟ level of education on compliance to procurement regulations in public secondary schools in Kirinyaga East sub-county. The study employed descriptive survey design. By use of stratified sampling, the researcher was able to obtain the desired sample size by grouping the schools into four categories. Purposive sampling was used to select BoM members who were part of the tendering and procurement committee. A total of 200 BoM members were thus enjoined in the study. Data was collected using structured questionnaires, self administered to both the head teachers and the BoM members. Data analysis was done by use of SPSS software (Version 20) where data was coded, cleaned, sorted, analyzed descriptively and presented using tables and charts. From the findings of the study, a higher percentage of the BoM members (36.3) as well as a larger percentage of the principals (48.5) believed in the various concepts of sensitization. The highly sensitized were more compliant (52.90) compared to those lowly sensitized. On the influence of trainings on compliance to procurement regulations, the findings of the study showed that most of the BoM members as well as the principals had not attended training workshops and seminars on compliance with procurement regulations. However trainings influenced compliance to procurement regulations where 56.5% of the trained complied against 43.5%. The findings also revealed that among both the BoM members and principals, there were considerable cases of unethical procurement cases being handled. It was also noted that among all the cases of unethical practices in procurement, there were many cases with regard to neutrality in picking the highest bidder and equity in vetting for the same. The finding also revealed that competency in procurement was influenced by education level where those with masters degree were more compliant (51.7) compared to those with bachelors degree (28.6). According to the responses posed with regard to respondents‟ recommendations on improving BoM members‟ compliance with procurement regulations there was need to improve on, training, education levels and exposure to procurement regulations. This will be able to enhance compliance with procurement regulations in schools.