Operational Innovation and Financial Sustainability of Rehabilitation Centres in Kenya: A Comparative Study of Miritini, Asumbi and Sinai
Abstract
Rehabilitation centres in Kenya face the challenge of maintaining continuous treatment and support services while securing adequate financial resources to meet operating costs. This study examined the relationship between operational innovation and financial sustainability of rehabilitation centres in Kenya through a comparative analysis of Miritini, Asumbi, and Sinai rehabilitation centres. It focused on three dimensions of operational innovation: product innovation, process innovation, and service innovation. The study was guided by Schumpeter's Theory of Innovation, Dynamic Capabilities Theory, Diffusion of Innovation Theory, and the Resource-Based View. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted. The target population comprised 60 managerial and senior operational staff across the three centres, and a census approach was used. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and 53 valid responses were obtained, representing a response rate of 88.3%. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, regression analysis, and one-way analysis of variance, with Tukey HSD post-hoc comparisons used where appropriate. The multiple regression model explained 67.2% of the variation in financial sustainability. Product innovation and service innovation were statistically significant predictors in the combined model, while process innovation did not make a statistically significant independent contribution after the other innovation dimensions were controlled for. The comparative analysis also identified significant differences in the levels of the study variables among the three rehabilitation centres. The findings highlight the importance of examining different dimensions of operational innovation and recognizing institutional differences when developing strategies to support financial sustainability. The study provides context-specific evidence for rehabilitation-centre managers, policymakers, and researchers concerned with operational innovation and the sustainability of rehabilitation services in Kenya.
Keywords: Operational innovation, financial sustainability, rehabilitation centres, product innovation, process innovation, service innovation
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