FACTORS AFFECTING PROCUREMENT LAW COMPLIANCE IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KWALE COUNTY OFKENYA

Abstract

The research was carried out to determine factors affecting procurement law compliance in public secondary schools in Kwale County. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the effects of organizational culture, procurement law enforcement by external agencies, staff training on Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act and procurement procedures on procurement law compliance in public secondary school in Kwale County.The study was grounded on the Agency Theory, Resource Based Theory and legitimacy Theory. Quantitative study design by use of survey was used for the study. The sampling technique used was stratified and simple random sampling. Quantitative data was collected using questionnaires from 70 respondents while qualitative data was collected using interviews. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative methods. The relationship between the variables was established using correlation analysis and the test of factors predicting independent variable was done through regression analysis. The study concluded that Organization Culture, Enforcements by the external agency Staff training and procurement procedures affects procurement law compliance in the public secondary schools in Kwale County. The findings indicate that out of the four dependent variables, three of them (Organization Culture, law enforcements by the external agency and Staff training on Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act) affects procurement law compliance positively. One variable (procurement procedures) was found to be affecting procurement law compliance negatively in public secondary schools. The study recommends that it is important to enact some changes on the procurement procedures of acquisition for goods and services in public secondary schools in order to ensure ultimate objective, accountability, and non-discrimination. Since the research survey was carried on in public schools, the government should train the school principals, heads of procurement units, evaluation committee and suppliers on the proper procurement procedures and practices so as to create consistency and to enhance compliance to the procurement law and/ or Act.