Effectiveness and Problems of Strategy Implementation of Financing Higher Education in Kenya by the Higher Education Loans Board

Abstract

The major determinant of an organisation success today in the changing and turbulent environment is the successful implementation of policies. The way strategies are implemented is governed by a policy framework, the direction an organisation takes in meeting its goals and objectives is influenced by the type of policy it employs. The HELB cannot be left out of this major effort, it must follow the critical path of success. For its own good and for the future of Kenyan citizens who wants to pursue higher education, clear and well defined policies in form of guidelines must be put in the right perspective. This may call for a comprehensive effort to develop a policy manual which can be used as HELB's "Bible" or the source of reference for all HELB core activities, especially in loans recovery which is the centre of focus for this research. The objective of this study is to find out whether HELB has been implementing its policies in loans recovery and also to look at the problems associated with such efforts, with a view to radically attain dramatic and positive change in loans recovery process. A linear model has been used in the literature review to explain the position of strategy implementation of policy in the overall strategy management process. The literature review has also captured adequately the policy framework in total and problems of successful implementation and approaches in implementation of strategic policies. Attempts have been made to explain how HELB has implemented its loans recovery strategy since inception in 1995. A comparison has also been made between HELB and other countries to find out the level of success and reveal missing gap if any. As a matter of procedure, an in depth research has been carried out to determine how HELB has progressed in the area of strategy implementation of the loans recovery policy. The empirical results obtained over the period between 1995 and 2000 indicates that HELB has not attained the required level of policy implementation in the loans recovery since no such policy has been in place. Though an improvement has been recorded over the years as compared to other defunct loans schemes, much more still need to be done to bridge the gap of loan recovery which is too wide as compared to other countries of the world. The problems facing HELB in the implementation of loans recovery strategy can only be resolved through meticulous implementation and adoption of a policy framework.