Influence of Employee Welfare Projects on Police Officers’ Motivation to Work: a Case of Police Housing Project in Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to establish how employee welfare projects in this case the police housing projects influenced police officers motivation to work. The study was guided by the following objectives: To determine how the location of houses influence police officers motivation to work; to establish the extent which provision of basic amenities influence police officers motivation to work; to examine how organization of security around the houses influence police officers motivation to work and to establish how maintenance procedures of houses influence police officers motivation to work. The study used descriptive survey design where both quantitative and qualitative approaches were employed. The population study was limited to Police Officers within an administrative area of about 696km2 (269sq m) in Nairobi County. The sample size was 130 police officers with a response rate of 74% (96). Primary data was collected using questionnaires using the drop and pick method. The data was then organized, edited and analyzed using computer data analysis software the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Data analysis outputs included descriptive statistics such as frequency distributions, percentages and means as a measure of central tendency. The findings were presented in tables and figures. A total of 96 respondents filled and returned their questionnaires, this translating to a response rate of 74% and non-response rate of 26%. Majority of the respondents were male police constable aged 26-35 years, lived in the houses for a period of 4-8 years with 4-6 members in each household. The respondents were therefore mature to give valid information on the influence of employee welfare projects on police officers level of motivation to work. The study recommends the government of Kenya to construct more police houses near police officers workplace and consider the geographical location in relation to transport network, schools, medical facilities, and urban services. The houses should provide adequate space, access to piped water, electricity connectivity, proper sanitation, and maintained in good working order without defects since it plays a decisive role in the health status of the residents. This study was based on police housing project in Nairobi County, the study therefore suggests that a similar study be conducted targeting all police housing projects in all counties in the country. The study further suggests that a similar study be carried out among other public officers and employees in the private sector to establish the influence of employee welfare projects on their level of motivation to work.