A survey of strategic responses of firms to environmental changes in Kenya: a case of the city council of Nairobi

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the factors that influence the City Council of Nairobi's responses to environmental changes, and to determine the City Council of Nairobi's strategic responses to the changes in the environment.

To satisfy the research objectives, the author used a descriptive research design comprising a case study of City Council of Nairobi. The population of study comprised of 33 senior management staff of the City Council including the town clerk, 17 chairpersons of 17 committees of the policy arm and the 15 heads of departments of the executive arm of the Council.

Primary data was collected usmg semi-structured questionnaires. The questionnaires were dropped and picked up later. Once the pertinent data were collected the researcher carried out analysis of the same using content analysis. Where applicable presentation was done in graphs, pie charts and graphs.

The study established that the factors that influence the CCN's response to environmental includes but are not limited to political-legal factors in which political interference with the running of the council through such issues like as political appointments. Legal factors where council decisions have to be vetted by the Ministry of local government. Economic factors in which overpopulation, poverty, and dependency resulted to straining of the limited facilities available, technological factors in which the city council has been slow in adopting technology in its operations, environmental factors where the city council of Nairobi is required to comply with the environmental conditions particularly in solid waste management.

The study shows that the City Council of Nairobi has responded to the changes in the environment in a number ways. The council has restructured and reorganized its committees and departments to address Issues affecting it; evident examples are; the procurement department which deals with matters of procurement particularly in ensuring compliance with the newly enacted procurement act that spells out tendering procedures for effective cost reduction, the legal department which has been given authority to handle litigation, conveyance. The human resource department was mandated to train and develop staff. The council has also decentralized the services of its departments to the divisions and ward levels by creating management and administrative structures at these levels. The council has also been ensuring that development plans and service delivery through LASDAP are carried out according to the needs at the ward level in order to spur development and ensure distribution of resources to the entire city. The council has also introduced performance contracting as a way of improvingthe performance of its management staff.

The study recommends that the CCN should embrace the ICT, firmly deal with corruption practices, and come up with a policy that is aimed at depopulating the city by developing and expanding industries and businesses to centres outside Nairobi. Also establishing a comprehensive plan that will see the infrastructure improved within the city. To keep pace with the expansion and technological changes, the council should hire consultants to advice on how to deal with emerging challenges posed by the environmental changes.