Factors Influencing Implementation Of Projects In The Kenyan Judiciary

Abstract

Performance improvement of the judicial system is vital to quality of justice, which is embodied in fairness, impartiality and equity, all of which are elemental to societal well-being and anchors the foundations of human civilization. The purpose of this study was to establish the factors that influence the implementation of court house construction at Kigumo law courts, Murang’a County, Kenya. The objectives of the study were; to establish the influence organizational culture, leadership and organizational structure on the implementation of court house construction at Kigumo law courts, Murang’a County, Kenya. The study design was descriptive survey in which data was collected using questionnaires from a sample size of 108 respondents, obtained from a target population of 150 .The sample consisted of judicial officers judiciary staff members of Kigumo law courts as well as clients and members of the project team that have been contracted to construct the court house. The data was analyzed using SPSS while applying various inferential statistical tests to show the influences of the independent variables on the dependent variable. The findings have been presented inform of tables as well as in narrative form The findings showed that three independent variables under study explained 67.25% of Implementation of court house construction at Kigumo law courts, Murang’a County. This implies that other factors other than those studied in this research contribute to 32.75 % of Implementation of court house construction at Kigumo law courts, Murang’a County, Kenya. The study established that majority of judiciary staff and clients were aware of the Institutions vision, mission, core values and specifically the court house construction indicating that the awareness levels among the staff and the clients was high. It also found that judiciary staff members are guided by institutional values and code of conduct in their day to day activities and they also care about the quality of services they provide showing that their commitment levels is high. Majority of the respondents also agreed that corruption, nepotism and use of vernacular were present in judiciary that the judiciary has put in place stringent measures to address these vices while fully embracing the culture of planning and has a distinctive corporate culture that one can easily identify with. The study findings showed that the suitable leadership style for implementing projects and the current style being practiced by the current management is participative style of leadership. The findings also showed that members of staff, directorates and courts stations have embraced team work and that objectivity and flexibility guides the undertaking of the judiciary management. Majority of the respondents agreed that Information that is needed for judicial officers and staff to do their job readily available, there is timely communication dissemination in the judiciary and the management of the judiciary provides timely feedback on inquiries. The study recommends continuous sensitization of the staff on the institutional vision, mission and core values through meetings and workshops to aid in raising the awareness level among the staff. The culture of planning should also be institutionalized further through capacity building while further strengthening the measures put in place to address vices like corruption, nepotism, sexual harassment and use of vernacular. The study also recommends mentoring programs coupled with training on leadership for all staff to help in succession planning and avoid leadership vacuum. There should also be periodical team building activities to help build cohesiveness and teamwork among the staff. There should also be an incubation center for all the new ideas that if proven to be working, should then be replicated throughout the court system