Influence of Leadership Development Training Determinants on Performance of Police Service in Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to establish the influence of leadership development training determinants on performance of police service in Kenya. Development of Police Leadership entails not only basic police training or formal education but systematic leadership development training that takes cognizance of the scalar chain and exposure to a range of policing experience. The specific objectives of the study included; to determine influence of knowledge gap on performance of the National Police Service in Kenya; to assess influence of training curriculum on performance of the National Police Service in Kenya; to establish influence of training appraisal system on performance of the National Police Service in Kenya.; to determine influence of retained knowledge on performance of the National Police Service in Kenya; to assess the moderating effects of educational entry level to the service on the relationship between the leadership development training and performance of the National Police Service in Kenya. The study reviewed related studies and explored the determinants of leadership development training in the Kenya National Police Service. The study targeted officers in the Kenya National Police Service, to provide vital and useful opinion regarding the determinants of leadership development training with a view to enhancing uptake and mainstreaming requisite leadership development training in the middle level officer’s career progression. The study also explored leadership development training as it related to gender, knowledge, skills and attitudes. The study was based on the cognitive theory, Reinforcement Theory, Herzberg’s Theory, Contextual Theories, New Public Management Theory and Institutional Theory. The study participants were entirely the National Police Service officers drawn from the different cadres and departments who had attended leadership development training at Police Colleges and Kenya School of Adventures and Leadership (KESAL) by April, 2016. The data was collected using a questionnaire which comprised of a 5-point Likert scale and thematic questions, from police officers after a stratified and random sampling process of different officer cadres of non-commissioned and gazzeted officers. The study was limited to knowledge gap, leadership training curriculum and leadership training appraisal system, retained knowledge and the moderating effect of educational entry level on performance of the National police Service. A pilot study was done with twenty officers, who were not included in the study. A qualitative and quantitative method was used to capture data on the middle level officer’s leadership skills and what determines their leadership development training needs. Primary data was collected using a semi structured questionnaire; while secondary data was collected through thematic review of literature on police leadership development training. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic method while quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and regression using Statistical Program for Social Societies (SPSS). The study contributed to the body of knowledge in regards to leadership development training and sheds light on what determines leadership development training needs and leadership skills gaps for performance in National Police service in Kenya. The results of the study revealed that knowledge gap, training appraisal system and retained knowledge positively influenced the performance of the National Police Service. The training curriculum had no significant impact on the performance of the National Police Service in Kenya. The study recommended that for effective training plans in NPS, the government and other stakeholders needed to constantly organize regular seminar and other refresher courses aimed at creating awareness on the emerging issues and technologies that can be used to deal with emerging crimes and terrorism in the country. This will ensure that the National Police Service becomes effective, responsive and vibrant in early crime detection and prevention.