HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND EMPLOYEES’ MENTAL HEALTH IN THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA
Keywords:
Mental Wellness, Civil Servants, Kenya
Abstract
The research examined the mental health and HRM relationship in the ODPP Head Office in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The investigation was motivated by increased mental problems among the Kenyan civil servants especially within the ODPP where cases are generally stressful. The key research questions examined the effects of recruitment transparency on employees' psychological health. The research was conducted anchored on the Equity Theory. Study design was mixed method. Questionnaires were used to sample the employees of the ODPP, and semi-structured interviews were conducted to achieve a response rate of 91 percent. The outcome of the inferential analysis revealed positive and statistically significant effects on mental health with recruitment transparency. The researcher finally states that HRM practices for ensuring equity and effectiveness in implementing them in a strategic manner is of great importance in shaping a conducive employees’ mental health. Significant recommendations include institutionalizing the recruitment process based on merit, openness in recruitment process and incorporating mental health policy within HR systems by updating its HR manual in accordance with the Mental Health (Amendment) Act 2022.
References
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Ochieng, P. A. (2020). Effects of mental health on the productivity of employees within financial institutions: a case of commercial banks in Kenya (Doctoral dissertation, United States International University-Africa).
Ouabi, Z., Douayri, K., Barboucha, F., & Boubker, O. (2024). Human Resource Practices and Job Performance: Insights from Public Administration. Societies, 14(12), 247. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14120247
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Sarnecki, A., Diehl, M. R., & Richter, A. (2024). Organizational injustice and employee affective health: The moderating effects of labor market conditions. European Management Journal, 42(6), 883-893. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2023.08.005
Sataloff, R. T., & Vontela, S. (2021). Response Rates in Survey Research. Journal of voice: official journal of the Voice Foundation, 35(5), 683–684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2020.12.043
Taber, K. S. (2018). The use of Cronbach’s alpha when developing and reporting research instruments in science education. Research in science education, 48(6), 1273-1296. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-016-9602-2
Tolla, M. T., Bukenya, D., & Amponsah, E. (2023). Mental health and HR practices in African public institutions. African Health Policy Journal, 8(1), 67–78.
van Woerkom, M., & Kroon, B. (2020). The Effect of Strengths-Based Performance Appraisal on Perceived Supervisor Support and the Motivation to Improve Performance. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 1883. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01883
Wan, J., Pan, K. T., Peng, Y., & Meng, L. Q. (2022). The impact of emotional leadership on subordinates' job performance: mediation of positive emotions and moderation of susceptibility to positive emotions. Frontiers in psychology, 13, 917287. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.917287
Watson, L. K., Kaiser, B. N., Giusto, A. M., Ayuku, D., & Puffer, E. S. (2020). Validating mental health assessment in Kenya using an innovative gold standard. International Journal of Psychology, 55(3), 425-434.
World Health Organization. (2022). World mental health report: Transforming mental health for all. World Health Organization.
Ahmed, S. K., Mohammed, R. A., Nashwan, A. J., Ibrahim, R. H., Abdalla, A. Q., Ameen, B. M. M., & Khdhir, R. M. (2025).Using thematic analysis in qualitative research. Journal of Medicine, Surgery, and Public Health, 6, 100198. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949916X25000222
Ali, M. A., Mathuva, E., & Mwenda, P. (2019). Influence of recruitment and selection on diversity management among state corporations in Mombasa County.
Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2017). Job demands-resources theory: Taking stock and looking forward. Journal of occupational health psychology, 22(3), 273–285. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000056
Bhoir, M., & Sinha, V. (2024). Employee well-being human resource practices: a systematic literature review and directions for future research. Future Business Journal, 10(1), 95. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-024-00382-w
Cachon-Alonso, L., & Elovainio, M. (2022). Organizational justice and health: reviewing two decades of studies. Journal of theoretical social psychology, 2022(1), 3218883. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/3218883
Chifunda, A. (2021). Transparency in the recruitment and selection of workers in local councils in Lusaka province (Doctoral dissertation, The University of Zambia).
Cho, H., Cho, K., & Jung, H. (2025). Fair Treatment and Job Satisfaction: A Multilevel Analysis of Employment Transition. Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 15(11), 1524. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15111524
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications.
Harvey, S. B., Modini, M., Joyce, S., Milligan-Saville, J. S., Tan, L., Mykletun, A. & Mitchell, P. B. (2017). Can work make you mentally ill? A systematic meta-review of work-related risk factors for common mental health problems. Occupational and environmental medicine, 74(4), 301-310.
Haryadi, M. S., Sawitri, D., & Orbaningsih, D. (2025). The Effect of Merit System Career Development on Employee Performance through Transparency of Career Development in the State Apparatus of Mojokerto Regency. AJARCDE (Asian Journal of Applied Research for Community Development and Empowerment), 9(2), 252-260.
Hngoi, C. L., Abdullah, N. A., Wan Sulaiman, W. S., & Zaiedy Nor, N. I. (2023). Relationship between job involvement, perceived organizational support, and organizational commitment with job insecurity: A systematic literature review. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1066734. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1066734
Homans, G. C. (1958). Social behavior as exchange. American journal of sociology, 63(6), 597-606.
Jugessur, Y. S. M. F. (2022). Reliability and internal consistency of data: Significance of calculating Cronbach’s alpha coefficient in educational research. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention, 11(4), 09-14. https://www.ijhssi.org/papers/vol11(4)/Ser-3/C1104030914.pdf
Kariuki, J., & Gichure, J. (2020). Occupational stress and mental health among Kenyan public servants. Kenya Journal of Human Resource Studies, 5(1), 12–25.
Khowaja, A. H., Ghazanfar, A. S., & Tayyab, H. (2025). Accuracy of intraocular lens power calculation formulae for the Yamane technique of secondary fixation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, 263(2), 259-268.
Kothari, C. R. (2004). Research methodology: Methods and techniques. New Age International.
Kwak S. (2023). Are Only p-Values Less Than 0.05 Significant? A p-Value Greater Than 0.05 Is Also Significant!. Journal of lipid and atherosclerosis, 12(2), 89–95. https://doi.org/10.12997/jla.2023.12.2.89
Ludviga, I., & Kalvina, A. (2024). Organizational agility during crisis: Do employees’ perceptions of public sector organizations’ strategic agility foster employees’ work engagement and well-being?. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 36(2), 209-229.
Mela, K., Dumbari, S. M., & Ali, M. (2023). Validity And Reliability Of Research Instruments In Public Administration. Public Administration, 1(1), 1-14.
Mugenda, O. M., & Mugenda, A. G. (2003). Research methods: Quantitative & qualitative apporaches (Vol. 2, No. 2). Nairobi: Acts press.
Mukolwe, E., Rotich, D., Mapelu, I., & Ipara, H. (2023). The Effect of Human Resource Practices on Hotel Performance during Crisis: A Case Study of Star-Rated Hotels in Mombasa, Kenya. European Journal of Human Resource, 7(2), 1-18.
Mwangi, R., & Wanjiku, L. (2022). Burnout and psychological wellness among prosecutors in Kenya. African Journal of Criminology and Justice Studies, 6(3), 89-102.
Nyamoko, R., Mbithi, M., & Kituku, G. (2024). Influence of Recruitment on Organizational Performance of Custom and Border Organizations in Kenya. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 8(7), 308-317.
O’Connor, E. P., & Crowley-Henry, M. (2019). Exploring the relationship between exclusive talent management, perceived organizational justice and employee engagement: Bridging the literature. Journal of Business Ethics, 156, 903-917.
Ochieng, P. A. (2020). Effects of mental health on the productivity of employees within financial institutions: a case of commercial banks in Kenya (Doctoral dissertation, United States International University-Africa).
Ouabi, Z., Douayri, K., Barboucha, F., & Boubker, O. (2024). Human Resource Practices and Job Performance: Insights from Public Administration. Societies, 14(12), 247. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14120247
Palinkas, L. A., Horwitz, S. M., Green, C. A., Wisdom, J. P., Duan, N., & Hoagwood, K. (2015). Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and analysis in mixed method implementation research. Administration and policy in mental health and mental health services research, 42, 533-544.
Sarnecki, A., Diehl, M. R., & Richter, A. (2024). Organizational injustice and employee affective health: The moderating effects of labor market conditions. European Management Journal, 42(6), 883-893. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2023.08.005
Sataloff, R. T., & Vontela, S. (2021). Response Rates in Survey Research. Journal of voice: official journal of the Voice Foundation, 35(5), 683–684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2020.12.043
Taber, K. S. (2018). The use of Cronbach’s alpha when developing and reporting research instruments in science education. Research in science education, 48(6), 1273-1296. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-016-9602-2
Tolla, M. T., Bukenya, D., & Amponsah, E. (2023). Mental health and HR practices in African public institutions. African Health Policy Journal, 8(1), 67–78.
van Woerkom, M., & Kroon, B. (2020). The Effect of Strengths-Based Performance Appraisal on Perceived Supervisor Support and the Motivation to Improve Performance. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 1883. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01883
Wan, J., Pan, K. T., Peng, Y., & Meng, L. Q. (2022). The impact of emotional leadership on subordinates' job performance: mediation of positive emotions and moderation of susceptibility to positive emotions. Frontiers in psychology, 13, 917287. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.917287
Watson, L. K., Kaiser, B. N., Giusto, A. M., Ayuku, D., & Puffer, E. S. (2020). Validating mental health assessment in Kenya using an innovative gold standard. International Journal of Psychology, 55(3), 425-434.
World Health Organization. (2022). World mental health report: Transforming mental health for all. World Health Organization.
