Change management challenges facing devolution of government at Kakamega Municipal Council

Abstract

This study investigated challenges facing devolution at the municipal council of Kakamega. Further, it established how change management was handled at municipal council. The objectives of the study were to determine how change relating to devolution was being handled and establish the challenges of managing changes at the municipal council. Interviews from key offices in the municipality at the four divisions that were centrally placed in change management processes were carried out to get an in-depth view of the challenges that hinder smooth implementation of devolved governance system. The study can be of great significant interest to the corporate world in Kenya and may have generated new information that can be used for policy formulation by the government and its ministries in the republic to help speed up devolution process. The research also advanced the work of previous scholars and academicians. Based on the research findings the study concluded that training and lack of incentives was a major factor that affected strategic change management at the municipality. Similarly, the information technology changes and style of leadership in the municipality and the government as a whole appeared to be politically controlled making it difficult to effect devolution willingly. The study anticipated and encountered limitations in terms of funds and lack of cooperation from respondents but this was dealt with through financial assistance from friends to make a final report a success