Procurement Performance in the Public Universities in Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the procurement management performance in the public universities. To achieve this it was guided by two research objectives: to establish the mechanisms to reduce the effects procurement challenges and determine the effectiveness of these mechanisms. The study used descriptive research design. The target population comprises of the University of Nairobi and its affiliate the Technical University of Kenya. The study used primary data gathered directly from respondents. Quantitative data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented through percentages, means, standard deviations and frequencies. The study established that oversight and enforcement challenge affected the procurement management to a great extent and that the mismanagement of oversight over the decentralized system the respondents agreed to a great extent. There was leverage on the buying power that comes with centralized purchasing and creation of adequate capacity in the buying agencies to tackle types of procurement. The study further established that Non-transparent procurement practices pose a challenge to the procurement management in the university to a very great extent and the university faced accountability challenges in procurement management the respondents. Corruption is rampant hindering the implementation of the 2005 procurement act and that officials are responsible for decision making. The study also established that there was combination of assets to deal with a financial issue the respondents and that there were problems in classification or sorting, Storage or archiving of data and records and retrieving of the records and systems as well as Poor technological infrastructure for record keeping. The study concludes that non-transparent procurement practices pose a challenge to the procurement management in the university to a very great extent and the university faced accountability challenges in procurement management the respondents. The study also concluded that there was combination of assets to deal with a financial issue the respondents and that there were problems in classification or sorting, Storage or archiving of data and records and retrieving of the records and systems as well as Poor technological infrastructure for record keeping. The study recommends that University of Nairobi adopts the idea of centralized decision study recommends that making to enhance the speed of decision making, enabling control of activities and thus reducing procurement challenges. The universities ought to encourage staff involvement / participation in decision making to tap their creativity. The study further recommends the university should encourage centralized procurement to enhance effectiveness of these mechanisms and promote standardization. Finally it is recommended that further study should also be carried out on other universities to find out if the same results will be obtained.