Effect of performance contracting on service delivery at municipal council of Mombasa

Abstract

This research study sought to find out the effects of performance contracting on service delivery at the Municipal Council of Mombasa to its residents. Performance contracting is part of the broader public sector reforms aimed at improving efficiency and effectiveness in the management of local authorities. The research traces the history of the performance contracting in Kenya and identifies successes and challenges of implementing the performance contract. The study was conducted using the case study research design. The researcher conducted in-depth interviews with 12 top management team of the council, who were involved in the performance contracting and gave their views. Reports on the Council performance records did provide useful information, which was useful in the compilation of the study report. Performance contracting was initially met with a lot of suspicion, animosity and at times outright hostility by the employees of the council due to inadequate information about it. The situation however improved with passage of time and the process is currently viewed very positive by the officers of the council as a means of offering quality service. The analysis isolated financial constraints, shortage of staff, political interference and negative attitude by stake holders, lack of adequate facilities and technical staff as the major sources of challenge to service delivery to the people of Mombasa municipality. The effects of performance contracting, according to a majority of the respondents including the council’s clerk is registered in improved service delivery, improved employee accountability and enhanced team spirit due to its ability to motivate employees to work. Due to the success of the initial phases of the process its roll out across all sectors of the council operations and cascade to the junior most employees is envisaged in the immediate future