An Assessment Of Successful E-Procurement System Implementation In Murang’a County Government, Kenya

Abstract

This study was about the E-procurement system. Purpose of this thesis was to assess successful E-procurement implemetation system in Murang’a County Governments. The objectives of the study were ; budgetary allocation, Information technology infrastructure, staff competence, and top management support on the successful e-procurement system implementation in Murang’a County Government. In order to fill this gap the study sought answers to the following four important questions: the effects of budgetary allocation on the successful e-procurement system implementation in Murang’a County? To what extent does staff competence affect the successful e-procurement system implementation in Murang’a County? what are the effects of Information technology infrastructure on the successful e-procurement system implementation in Murang’a County? To what extent does top management support affect successful e-procurement system implementation in Murang’a County? As part of the Government’s initiative to reform the Public Finance Management system and restore the public confidence in the use of public funds, the government of Kenya introduced an Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS),e-procurement module that would enhance efficiency in planning, budgeting, procurement, expenditure management and reporting in the National and County Governments. The study is anchored on Technology acceptance model, organizational environment theory, Resource based theory and Technology disruptive innovation. The descriptive study design was adopted for the study. A census conducted on all employees dealing with e-procurement system implementation who constitute the target population. Structured questionnaires for primary data was used to collect data while journals, national treasury reports, Public procurement regulatory authority (PPRA) website, was obtained through secondary data. The questionnaire having being pilot tested to improve the instrument reliability with 28 staff from Nyeri County government. Cronbach Alpha coefficient with a value of 0.70 or above was considered to indicate whether the instrument is reliable. Out of the 96 respondents, 90 respondent representing 93.8%. Collected data was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences, generate descriptive and statistics inferential was employed on the degree test of relationship among the variable with a statistical confidence level at 95%. The study revealed that budgetary allocation for E-procurement system implementation has been a major challenge towards its implementation due to inadequate fund for acquisition of both computer hardware and software required for successful e-procurement system implementation. In addition, inadequate ICT infrastructure, incompatibility of various ICT system and lack of stable internet connectivity affected effective E-procurement system implementation. Lack of training and management top support could hamper effectiveness of E-procurement system implementation but county key employee had been trained and top management has demonstrated support of changing from manual to E-procurement system. The study recommended that Murang’a County government should ensure that physical, human and financial resources are adequately budgeted. The County government should aslo focus on upgrading information technology infrastructure as a way to enhance E-procurement system implementation. The study suggests that further study could look at the adoption level on E-Procurement system in County Government. The study also recommends allocation of adequate funds for infrastructure and capacity building purposes for the successful implementation of the e-procurement. To this end, the County will be able to reap fully the benefits of the Government’s e-procurement system initiative.