Effect of Strategic Planning Practices on Organizational Performance of The County Government of Kilifi, Kenya

Abstract

This study examined the influence of strategic planning practices on organizational performance at the County Government of Kilifi, Kenya. Despite the introduction of performance contracting in Kenya's public sector in 2003, county governments continue to experience challenges such as underutilization of allocated funds and delayed implementation of development projects. The study sought to assess how strategic planning practices contribute to improved county performance within the devolved governance framework. Grounded in the Theory of Goal Formulation, Systems Theory, the Results-Based Management Model, and the Resource-Based View, the study adopted a descriptive survey and correlational research design. A census of 130 respondents from 13 administrative departments was conducted, with 121 valid responses returned, representing a 93.1% response rate. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, and reliability and validity tests confirmed the adequacy of the instruments. Descriptive statistics revealed that strategic planning practices were well institutionalized in Kilifi County, with departments operating under structured strategic plans aligned with the County Integrated Development Plan. Respondents indicated high levels of familiarity with departmental vision statements, regular consultative meetings, time-bound objectives, and robust monitoring and evaluation systems. Correlation analysis revealed a strong and statistically significant positive relationship between strategic planning practices and organizational performance (r = 0.768, p < 0.01). Regression analysis further showed that strategic planning made a significant positive contribution to performance (β = 0.048, p < 0.05), while the overall model explained 42.9% of performance variation (R² = 0.429). ANOVA results confirmed the model's overall significance (F = 8.816, p < 0.05). The study concludes that integrating strategic planning with participatory approaches, budgeting processes, and robust monitoring and evaluation systems enhances organizational performance in county governments. The findings underscore the importance of clear mission and vision statements, stakeholder engagement, and effective resource allocation in promoting accountability, operational efficiency, and service delivery. The study recommends that county governments strengthen strategic planning frameworks, enhance staff capacity in planning processes, and align annual work plans with long-term development objectives to optimize performance outcomes.

Keywords: Strategic Planning, Organizational Performance, County Government, Service Delivery, Kenya