Factors influencing effectiveness in tendering process in public sector, the case of Nyeri County, Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the factors influencing effectiveness in tendering process in the Public sector the case ofNyeri county Kenya. The study is specifically focused on Kenya Urban Roads Authority, Kenya Highway Roads Authority and Kenya Rural Roads Authority in Central Region Nyeri County. Tendering process has been a serious issue of I~te and if not well management it will be very costly to the Government. Tendering is the function that costs an organization a great deal of money and this has to be performed correctly in order to maximize effectiveness and minimize costs. Most organizations executive management has realized that managing Tenders must emerge as a critical core competency if organizations are to increase revenue. Procurement plays a very vital role in Economical growth and Development of any country if well managed.

The Study aimed at achieving the following specific objectives in Public sector in Nyeri County Main: To establish how duration taken, Ethical practices, training of employees , record management and ICT use influence effectiveness of tendering process in central region in Nyeri county. The study was confined to Road Construction Industry since the study is wide assuming that the respondents were willing to Co-operate, be honest, freely participate, provided accurate responses to the items in the data collection Instruments and the sample size chosen is adequate to draw a valid conclusion. The researcher adopted descriptive survey research design using both qualitative and quantitative research paradigms.

The Data Collection Instrument was a questionnaire that was self administer with the help of research assistants. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics namely Pearson Product Moment Correlation and T -test and presented by use of tables. The study findings indicated that there was practice of favoritism, tribalism and nepotism in the tendering process in public sector in Nyeri County. The lack of a strong procurement profession and inadequate training of staff has led to failure to employ good practices in procurement, creating inefficiencies and high costs in the tendering process in the county. Some of the recommendations to the management of KURA, KeRRA and KeNHAare that:

All the employees involved in tendering process should advance their education level especially those with o-level and Diplomas as their highest education qualification. The Ministry of Roads, KURA, KeNHA and KeRRA heads should ensure this is done in order to improve effectiveness and efficiency in tendering process, the Government should also improve Staff remuneration more particular those involved in tendering process since they handle large sums of tenders to avoid being corrupt, the authorities should ensure that procurement policies and regulations are adhered to, should train all the procurement staff in order to provide them with skills and knowledge of procurement process. All payments for sale of tender documents should also be done online. This will improve effectiveness of tendering process.

The researcher suggest that further research be done on: The impact of ethical practices in tendering process and how it affects the Kenyan economy in other counties, similar study may also be carried out in other counties to establish whether the findings are similar as those generalized in this study and Investigate on other factors that influence effectiveness in the tendering process in Kenya.