SUPPLY CHAIN PRACTICES, REFORMS AND PERFORMANCE IN THE KENYAN MINISTRIES

Abstract

A signicant part of the undesirable performance in public institusions has been attributed to
weakeneses in their supply chain performance. It is primarily for this reason that the study
sought to survey and investigate the supply chain management practices, reforms and their
impact on supply chain performance in the Kenyan national government ministries. The study
employed both qualitative and quantitative research designs and utilized data from all the 18
government ministries in Kenya. The 54 respondents who participated in the study were
sampled through the census method. The primary data from the sample subjects were
collected through semi-structured questionnaires. The study findings drawn from both
descriptive statistics and regression analysis identify the use of information technology,
partnerships, outsourcing, tendering, distribution and logistics, inventory control, and lean
base reduction as the key supply chain practices among government ministries in Kenya. The
study findings also reveal that the ministries have made a number of reforms that relates to
their supply chain systems including the introduction of e-government, adherence to ISO
standards, and implementation of service delivery charters. The present study cements the
findings of previous studies that supply chain practices and reforms do, though not
significantly, affect the supply chain performance in Kenyan ministries.
Key words: Supply Chain Practices, Supply Chain Reforms, Supply Chain Performance,
Kenyan Ministries.