EFFECTS OF CAPACITY BUILDING DETERMINANTS FOR MEMBERS OF COUNTY ASSEMBLIES (MCAS) IN KENYA: THE CASE OF NAIROBI CITY COUNTY ASSEMBLY
Violet Asiko Akala
Master of Public Policy and Administration, Kenyatta University, Kenya
Prof. David Minja
Department of Public Policy and Administration, Kenyatta University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Capacity development initiatives for county legislatures help in enabling them become more efficient, effective and democratic. Given that legislators perform their work on behalf of the electorate besides being required to consult with their constituents when making important decisions that affect their lives, they therefore need relevant set of skills that promote the efficiency and effectiveness with which they perform their work. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of capacity building determinants for members of county assemblies in Kenya using the case of Nairobi City County Assembly. The study sought to achieve the following objectives: To establish the effect of training needs assessment on capacity building at the Nairobi City County Assembly; To determine the effect of training methods on capacity building at the Nairobi City County Assembly; To assess the effect of training content on capacity building at the Nairobi City County Assembly; To establish the effect of financial adequacy on capacity building at the Nairobi City County Assembly. The study focused on all 123 members of the County Assembly of Nairobi together with 147 permanent staff. The study applied mixed methods of qualitative and quantitative techniques. A representative sample of 82 respondents was selected through stratified random sampling. Questionnaires were used in collection of data. Descriptive and inferential helped in analysis. The analyzed data was presented in prose, using tables and figures. The study established that training needs assessment (r=0.424, p=0.000<0.05) had positive and significant correlation with capacity building. The training methods (r=0.453, p=0.000<0.05) had direct and significant relationship with capacity building. Training content (r=0.642, p=0.000<0.05) had positive and significant correlation with capacity building. Financial adequacy (r=0.518, p=0.000<0.05) had positive and significant relationship with capacity building. The study concludes that training needs assessment with p value had significant influence on capacity building. Training methods had significant influence on capacity building. Training content had significant influence on capacity building. Financial adequacy had significant effect on capacity building. The study recommends that the senior management team of the County Assemblies in Kenya should improve on training need assessment practices in place so as to directly influence the level of capacity building among members. The top management team of all County Assemblies in Kenya should improve on training methods in place in order to significantly influence the level of capacity building. The senior management team of all county assemblies in Kenya should improve on training content by ensuring that the training contents are relevant to different member duties. The management of Nairobi City County Assembly to increase the overall budget utilized on capacity building for all the members.
