Influence of security governance on the quality of law enforcement in Kenya

Abstract

The quality of law enforcement is a concern for every citizen because it affects all whether directly or indirectly. This study sought to establish the influence of security governance on the quality of law enforcement in Kenya. It specifically sought to determine the influence of Administrative structures on the quality of law enforcement in Kenya; to establish the influence of regulatory structures on the quality of law enforcement in Kenya; to analyze the influence of resource allocations on quality of law enforcement in Kenya, to determine the influence of Operational Processes on the quality of law enforcement in Kenya and to establish the influence of citizen participation on the quality of law enforcement in Kenya.The study was anchored on four theories;Leader–member exchange (LMX) Theory (1970’s), Contingency Theory (1950’s), Resource Based Theory(1985), and The Governance Theory (1990’s).The study adopted a descriptive survey research design that was also cross-sectional. The population of this study comprised of Seven Hundred and Fifty One (751) senior police officers of the Kenya police service drawn from the Eight Administrative Regions/provinces and the police formations as recognized by the Kenyan Constitution promulgated in 2010. A sample size of two hundred and fifty four (254) administrative officers of the Kenya police service was used. Stratified sampling was used in the first stage and in stage two, officers were randomly picked from the different Regions and police formations in line with the allocations of each strata.Data was collected using a questionnaire which had both closed-ended (Likert type scale 1-5) questions and open-ended questions and supplimented with an interview guide. A total of one hundred and fifty five (155) officers responded to the questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed using the SPSS software. Additionally, spreadsheets were used to supplement the SPSS in areas such as the presentation of results using bar graphs, pie charts and frequency tables. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation. Inferential statistics included correlation and multiple regression. Qualitative data was grouped into categories based on themes that were aligned to the research objectives and was integrated in the discussion of findings.The study established that Administrative structures, regulatory structures, resource allocations, operational processes and citizen participation all positively influenced the quality of law enforcement in Kenya. In total, the five variables of the study put together contributed 78.1% on the quality of law enforcement in Kenya. The study came to the conclusion that all the five variables of the study;Administrative structures, regulatory structures, resource allocations , operational processes and citizen participation significantly and positively influence the quality of law enforcement in Kenya. The study recommended that the Kenya police service should embrace favorable leadership practices to enhance effectiveness and, Promotion policy/criteria should be clear and well communicated to the officers all which collectively will lead to better administration of the service. The study also recommended that the regulatory structures of the Kenya police service (Internal and external) must work together each recognizing the importance of the other as they seek to achieve the objectives of the constitution and government policy in ensuring that the service is accountable to the citizens of Kenya. It also recommended operational independence and that resource allocations to the Kenya police service need proper planning and management involving the users of the equipment. The Kenya police service should adopt the principle of acting for and with the local citizen and take the initial step towards the achievement of safer and secure country, with respect to human life.