Title:
STAFF DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES AND EMPLOYEE JOB PERFORMANCE AT KIRINYAGA COUNTY GOVERNMENT, KENYA

Authors:
Wanjohi, Grace Kariko and Jackson Ndolo Muthini (PhD)

Abstract:
Staff developments scheme is amongst the novel management strategies which organizations are increasingly, embracing in an attempt to improve efficiency and effectiveness in job performance. Staff developments scheme are important for career development for both the manager and employee. The manager can help guide the employee on the path to corporate advancement and consequently the employee gets a clearer understanding of what is expected on their daily job duties. Staff development has been a major challenge for the counties since their inception in 2010. In Kirinyaga County there is growing disquiet that employees have stagnated in the same job group for close to ten years. There has been raised concerns on whether it could be precipitating low staff morale. Therefore the study sought to establish the influence of staff development schemes on job performance among employees in Kirinyaga County Government. The study was anchored on two theories; Goal Setting Theory by Lotham and Locke (1979) and Expectancy Theory by Vroom (1964). The study sought; to review the current staff development schemes and its influence on job performance. The target population consisted of 306 employees of Kirinyaga County Government. Using a convenience sample of 62 employees, data was collected by means of a questionnaire and analyzed through both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study established that staff development scheme in the county government of Kirinyaga was very weak. The overall (staff development scheme) computed aggregate mean score (x?= 2.0423, s= .46535) which indicated that on average, employee staff development scheme rarely occurred. The study also established that there was no statistically significant relationship between employee job performance and the staff development scheme at Kirinyaga County Government. The researchers recommend that there is need to evaluate and improve the staff development scheme at the county with a view of enhancing employees’ job performance.