Impact of affirmative action on quality of service delivery in the public service sector of Kenya: a comparative case of the Ministry of State in the Office of the President and Ministry of Higher Education

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the impact of affirmative action policy on service delivery in the public service sector of Kenya. A lot of resources are spent on affirmative action programs. Not much is known about the impact of Affirmative action on quality of service delivery in the Public Service Sector. Primary and Secondary' data were obtained from the ministries ·of Gender, Social Development and Children, Higher Education, Science and Technology and Ministry of state in the office of the president using a questionnaire.

The study adopted a comparative case survey design, hence was descriptive, and involved a combination of both qualitative and quantitative data. Qualitative analysis was done by calculating percentage counts and frequency counts and tests of hypotheses.

The study revealed that implementation of an affirmative action policy in the public service sector impacts positively on the quality of service delivery and again that the quality of service delivery as indicated by cost effectiveness, accountability, employee participation, productivity and transparency was higher in the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and technology than in the Ministry of State in the Office of the President. Chi-square data analysis revealed that there is a significant relationship between affirmative action implementation in employment, promotion, training and career progression and the quality of service delivery in the public service sector of Kenya. The study recommends that in future researchers should investigate the impact of affirmative action with respect to racial and ethnic differences and disability.