ENVIRONMENTAL SCANNING AND ITS ROLE IN ENHANCING SERVICE DELIVERY IN DEVOLVED UNITS EVIDENCE FROM KENYA’S CENTRAL REGION
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study examined how environmental scanning contributes to service delivery in Kenya’s Central Region under devolved governance. Although devolution was intended to enhance efficiency, equity, and responsiveness, county governments continue to face challenges such as weak capacity, political interference, and inadequate resources. The study explored environmental scanning as a strategic tool for identifying opportunities, anticipating risks, and aligning planning with service delivery. Grounded in Dynamic Capabilities Theory, the Resource-Based View, and Institutional Theory, the research employed a mixed-methods design involving surveys, interviews, and document review with county officials and policymakers. Analysis showed that counties practicing structured environmental scanning achieved greater strategic responsiveness, better resource use, and improved outcomes in health, education, water, and infrastructure. Leadership commitment, institutional capacity, and regulatory support were identified as key enablers, while counties lacking scanning mechanisms displayed reactive planning and inconsistent services. The study concludes that institutionalizing environmental scanning enhances timely and citizen-centered service delivery and recommends creating formal scanning units, training staff, and integrating scanning into policy and budgeting frameworks.
Article Details
Issue
Section
Articles
References
Barney, J. B., Ketchen, D. J., & Wright, M. (2021). Resource-based theory and the value creation framework. Journal of Management, 47(7), 1717–1736. https://doi.org/10.1177/01492063211007313
Bosire, C., & Wanjala, S. (2020). Devolution and public service delivery in Kenya: Policy and practice. Nairobi: Katiba Institute.
Bryman, A. (2020). Social research methods (6th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Cheng, Y., & Zhang, J. (2021). Environmental scanning in public organizations: A systematic review. Public Management Review, 23(12), 1752–1772. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2020.1775282
Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2021). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.
Drechsler, W. (2022). Digital governance and state capacity: Lessons from Estonia. Government Information Quarterly, 39(1), 101652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2021.101652
Fetters, M. D. (2020). The mixed methods research workbook. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 14(2), 123–127. https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689819893749
Institute of Economic Affairs [IEA] Kenya. (2022). Public participation in Kenya’s counties: Experiences and lessons. Nairobi: IEA Kenya.
Kamau, D., & Gekonge, C. (2022). Leadership commitment and strategic planning in devolved governments. African Journal of Public Administration, 5(2), 33–47.
Kariuki, J., & Mutua, P. (2022). Governance oversight and resource mismanagement in Kenyan counties. African Journal of Governance and Development, 11(1), 77–92.
Kariuki, P., & Wanjiru, M. (2022). Environmental scanning and strategic management in Kenyan county governments. Journal of African Public Sector Management, 3(4), 55–70.
Keter, L., & Akinyi, V. (2024). Digital innovations and governance effectiveness in Africa’s devolved systems. International Journal of E-Governance Studies, 6(1), 21–36.
Kiai, J., & Muturi, P. (2020). Capacity building and institutional development in Kenyan counties. Kenya Journal of Public Administration, 2(1), 88–101.
Kim, Y., & Lee, J. (2020). Environmental scanning and organizational performance in local governments. Public Performance & Management Review, 43(5), 1013–1035. https://doi.org/10.1080/15309576.2019.1657910
Kothari, C. R. (2021). Research methodology: Methods and techniques (4th ed.). New Age International Publishers.
March, J. G. (2020). Rationality and bounded rationality reconsidered. Management Science, 66(3), 1319–1332. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2019.3273
Mitchell, T., & Mitra, A. (2022). The role of environmental scanning in strategic decision-making. Strategic Management Review, 15(1), 45–60.
Mukonza, C., & Managa, S. (2022). Capacity and governance challenges in African local governments. Journal of African Public Policy, 7(2), 54–69.
Mugenda, O. M., & Mugenda, A. G. (2019). Research methods: Quantitative and qualitative approaches. ACTS Press.
Mwangi, P. (2023). Structured environmental scanning and resource allocation in Kenyan counties. Kenya Journal of Development Studies, 5(1), 41–58.
Nabatchi, T., & Sancino, A. (2020). Organizational learning and public sector responsiveness. Public Administration Review, 80(6), 1009–1022. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.13205
Ndung’u, S., & Wanjohi, J. (2023). Stakeholder consultations and service delivery in Kenyan counties. Journal of African Governance Studies, 9(2), 112–128.
Nowell, L. S., Norris, J. M., White, D. E., & Moules, N. J. (2017). Thematic analysis: Striving to meet trustworthiness criteria. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917733847
Nyamori, P., & Gachanja, E. (2023). Human resource gaps and governance challenges in Kenya’s devolved units. African Journal of Administrative Sciences, 8(3), 77–91.
Nzabonimpa, J. P. (2021). Community-based environmental scanning and participatory governance in Rwanda. Journal of African Public Administration, 6(2), 19–35.
Obeng-Odoom, F. (2020). Resource management and public service delivery in Africa. Journal of Economic Issues, 54(1), 237–249. https://doi.org/10.1080/00213624.2020.1714273
Obosi, J., & Nyanjom, O. (2021). Political interference and planning in Kenya’s devolved system. Kenya Governance Review, 4(2), 64–80.
Ochieng, S. (2023). Institutional compliance and legitimacy in devolved governance. Kenya Journal of Governance Studies, 7(1), 99–114.
OECD. (2021). Digital government index 2020: Overview of results. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/4de9f5bb-en
Oloo, A. (2023). Politics and strategic planning in devolved governance in Kenya. Journal of African Political Economy, 12(1), 15–31.
Onyango, G. (2023). Citizen participation and public trust in devolved governance. African Journal of Democracy and Governance, 10(2), 144–159.
Resnik, D. B. (2020). What is ethics in research and why is it important? National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/bioethics
Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2019). Research methods for business students (8th ed.). Pearson Education.
Scott, W. R. (2020). Institutions and organizations: Ideas, interests, and identities (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
Teece, D. J. (2021). Dynamic capabilities and organizational agility: Risk, uncertainty, and strategy in the innovation economy. California Management Review, 63(2), 5–27. https://doi.org/10.1177/0008125621992576
Transparency International. (2022). Corruption perception index 2022: Sub-Saharan Africa. Transparency International.
United Nations Development Programme [UNDP]. (2021). Governance for resilience in Africa: Evidence and lessons. UNDP Africa Policy Centre.
Van der Waldt, G. (2020). Integrated planning and service delivery in South African municipalities. African Journal of Public Affairs, 9(3), 23–39.
World Bank. (2022). Kenya economic update: Navigating the pandemic. Washington, DC: World Bank.
Bosire, C., & Wanjala, S. (2020). Devolution and public service delivery in Kenya: Policy and practice. Nairobi: Katiba Institute.
Bryman, A. (2020). Social research methods (6th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Cheng, Y., & Zhang, J. (2021). Environmental scanning in public organizations: A systematic review. Public Management Review, 23(12), 1752–1772. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2020.1775282
Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2021). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.
Drechsler, W. (2022). Digital governance and state capacity: Lessons from Estonia. Government Information Quarterly, 39(1), 101652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2021.101652
Fetters, M. D. (2020). The mixed methods research workbook. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 14(2), 123–127. https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689819893749
Institute of Economic Affairs [IEA] Kenya. (2022). Public participation in Kenya’s counties: Experiences and lessons. Nairobi: IEA Kenya.
Kamau, D., & Gekonge, C. (2022). Leadership commitment and strategic planning in devolved governments. African Journal of Public Administration, 5(2), 33–47.
Kariuki, J., & Mutua, P. (2022). Governance oversight and resource mismanagement in Kenyan counties. African Journal of Governance and Development, 11(1), 77–92.
Kariuki, P., & Wanjiru, M. (2022). Environmental scanning and strategic management in Kenyan county governments. Journal of African Public Sector Management, 3(4), 55–70.
Keter, L., & Akinyi, V. (2024). Digital innovations and governance effectiveness in Africa’s devolved systems. International Journal of E-Governance Studies, 6(1), 21–36.
Kiai, J., & Muturi, P. (2020). Capacity building and institutional development in Kenyan counties. Kenya Journal of Public Administration, 2(1), 88–101.
Kim, Y., & Lee, J. (2020). Environmental scanning and organizational performance in local governments. Public Performance & Management Review, 43(5), 1013–1035. https://doi.org/10.1080/15309576.2019.1657910
Kothari, C. R. (2021). Research methodology: Methods and techniques (4th ed.). New Age International Publishers.
March, J. G. (2020). Rationality and bounded rationality reconsidered. Management Science, 66(3), 1319–1332. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2019.3273
Mitchell, T., & Mitra, A. (2022). The role of environmental scanning in strategic decision-making. Strategic Management Review, 15(1), 45–60.
Mukonza, C., & Managa, S. (2022). Capacity and governance challenges in African local governments. Journal of African Public Policy, 7(2), 54–69.
Mugenda, O. M., & Mugenda, A. G. (2019). Research methods: Quantitative and qualitative approaches. ACTS Press.
Mwangi, P. (2023). Structured environmental scanning and resource allocation in Kenyan counties. Kenya Journal of Development Studies, 5(1), 41–58.
Nabatchi, T., & Sancino, A. (2020). Organizational learning and public sector responsiveness. Public Administration Review, 80(6), 1009–1022. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.13205
Ndung’u, S., & Wanjohi, J. (2023). Stakeholder consultations and service delivery in Kenyan counties. Journal of African Governance Studies, 9(2), 112–128.
Nowell, L. S., Norris, J. M., White, D. E., & Moules, N. J. (2017). Thematic analysis: Striving to meet trustworthiness criteria. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917733847
Nyamori, P., & Gachanja, E. (2023). Human resource gaps and governance challenges in Kenya’s devolved units. African Journal of Administrative Sciences, 8(3), 77–91.
Nzabonimpa, J. P. (2021). Community-based environmental scanning and participatory governance in Rwanda. Journal of African Public Administration, 6(2), 19–35.
Obeng-Odoom, F. (2020). Resource management and public service delivery in Africa. Journal of Economic Issues, 54(1), 237–249. https://doi.org/10.1080/00213624.2020.1714273
Obosi, J., & Nyanjom, O. (2021). Political interference and planning in Kenya’s devolved system. Kenya Governance Review, 4(2), 64–80.
Ochieng, S. (2023). Institutional compliance and legitimacy in devolved governance. Kenya Journal of Governance Studies, 7(1), 99–114.
OECD. (2021). Digital government index 2020: Overview of results. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/4de9f5bb-en
Oloo, A. (2023). Politics and strategic planning in devolved governance in Kenya. Journal of African Political Economy, 12(1), 15–31.
Onyango, G. (2023). Citizen participation and public trust in devolved governance. African Journal of Democracy and Governance, 10(2), 144–159.
Resnik, D. B. (2020). What is ethics in research and why is it important? National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/bioethics
Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2019). Research methods for business students (8th ed.). Pearson Education.
Scott, W. R. (2020). Institutions and organizations: Ideas, interests, and identities (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
Teece, D. J. (2021). Dynamic capabilities and organizational agility: Risk, uncertainty, and strategy in the innovation economy. California Management Review, 63(2), 5–27. https://doi.org/10.1177/0008125621992576
Transparency International. (2022). Corruption perception index 2022: Sub-Saharan Africa. Transparency International.
United Nations Development Programme [UNDP]. (2021). Governance for resilience in Africa: Evidence and lessons. UNDP Africa Policy Centre.
Van der Waldt, G. (2020). Integrated planning and service delivery in South African municipalities. African Journal of Public Affairs, 9(3), 23–39.
World Bank. (2022). Kenya economic update: Navigating the pandemic. Washington, DC: World Bank.