MPPM Thesis and Dissertations (2023)

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Browsing MPPM Thesis and Dissertations (2023) by Author "Mpaima, N. L."

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    Enhancing public financial management in county governments: the case of Laikipia County
    (Strathmore University, 2023) Mpaima, N. L.
    County governments in Kenya have made significant efforts towards the establishment of the foundations for comprehensive public financial management practices. Despite the implementation of the public financial management systems being in its developmental stages, the counties have made considerable achievement in several fronts. The aim of this investigation was to assess the public financial management enhancing practices in county governments: the case of Laikipia county. The specific aims of the investigation was to assess the budget reliability and policy-based fiscal strategies as practices of enhancing public financial management in Laikipia County government. The investigation was anchored on two key theories: theory of fiscal decentralization and theory of financial controls. This study used interpretivism philosophy and adopted a descriptive research design. The research was a case study of Laikipia county government. Secondary data related to the study objectives was gathered for analysis. Secondary data was gathered from existing county records. Content and descriptive analysis were utilized to analyze the collected data. The findings established that budget reliability performance in terms of aggregate expenditure outturn and revenue outturn was below the minimum required level in Laikipia County. However, budget performance in terms of expenditure composition outturn was within the minimum required level. Further, policy-based fiscal strategies performance in terms of macroeconomic and fiscal forecasting was below the minimum required level in Laikipia County. However, the performance in terms of fiscal strategy, budget preparation process and legislative scrutiny of budgets was above the minimum required level. The study concluded that budget reliability and policy-based fiscal strategies are key towards service delivery. The researcher recommended that the County government of Laikipia should strengthen budget reliability indicators such as aggregate expenditure outturn, expenditure composition outturn and revenue Outturn. The county government should also strengthen policy-based fiscal strategies indicators including macroeconomic and fiscal forecasting, fiscal strategy, medium term perspective in expenditure budgeting, budget preparation process and legislative scrutiny of budgets. This will be vital in achieving improved implementation of budget as planned, resulting to provision of better services to the citizens.