Influence of Devolution and Politics on Expansion Strategies in Public Training Institutions: A Case Study of Kenya Medical Training College

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of devolution and politics on the expansion strategies in public training institutions with reference to the Kenya Medical Training College. The specific objectives of the study are to: establish the influence of devolution of health services on the success of expansion strategies in the public training institutions and; determine the influence of politics on the success of expansion strategies in the public training institutions. This study is based on the contingency theory. It adopts the descriptive survey design. The study focuses on 2393 KMTC officers from the 73 KMTC campuses in Kenya, 42 ministries of health officials in the 42 counties that have KMTC campuses, and 42 local leaders from those counties that have KMTC campuses. The total targeted study participants were thus 2477. From these, 10% (248 persons) were sampled. The study used purposive and stratified random sampling techniques to obtain the study sample. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires and interviews. Data from questionnaires were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, and means) were used to describe the central tendencies of the data. In addition, inferential statistics (Pearson Correlation and Multiple Regression Analysis) were also used.  Data from key informants were analysed using content analysis techniques. The findings show that the two study variables influenced the uptake of expansion strategies at KMTC campuses. In this regard, Pearson correlation shows that there was statistical significant relationship between devolution of health services (r=0.322, p<0.001) and; politics (r=0.478, p<0.001) and success of expansion strategies. These findings show that politics was the strongest factor influencing the success of expansion strategies followed by devolution of health services. As such, avoiding the negative influences of the devolution of health services and politics can enhance the success of expansion strategies at KMTC. In this regard, efforts aimed at reducing political patronage as well as interferences of devolved governments in the running of KMTC campuses would enhance the performance of new campuses.