International Journal of Management and Leadership Studies
2025; 6(i): 873-884
ISSN:
2311 7575
STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND PERFORMANCE OF STATE CORPORATIONS IN KENYA. A CASE STUDY OF KENYA PLANT HEALTH INSPECTORATE SERVICES
Benson Utali and Mr. Brown Kitur
Published:
01 December, 2025
Volume:
6
Issue:
i
Keywords:
Strategic management practices, performance, state corporations, Kenya
The study explored the effect of strategic management practices and performance of
state corporations in Kenya. The study was guided by the following specific objectives:
to find out the effect of strategic goal setting on performance at KEPHIS, to determine
the effect of resource allocation on performance at KEPHIS, to find out the effect of
technology adoption on performance at KEPHIS, a n d to assess the effect of monitoring
and evaluation on performance at KEPHIS. The study focused on the Kenya Plant
Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), a state corporation mandated to regulate the
quality of agricultural inputs and produce in Kenya, and sought to address challenges
in service delivery, operational efficiency, and financial stability through strategic
management practices. The main objective of the study was to analyze the role of
strategic management practices in improving organizational performance at KEPHIS,
while the specific objectives were to assess the effect of strategic goal-setting, resource
allocation, technological adoption, and monitoring and evaluation frameworks on
performance. The study was limited to KEPHIS employees, targeting a population of
160 and a sample size of 114 respondents. It adopted a descriptive research design and
was anchored on the Resource-Based View (RBV) Theory, Technology Acceptance
Model (TAM) Theory, and Balanced Scorecard (BSC) Theory. Data were collected
through questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, with results presented
in tables. The findings revealed that well-defined strategic goals, transparent resource
allocation, effective technological integration, and strong monitoring and evaluation
systems significantly enhanced organizational efficiency, accountability, and service
delivery. The study recommends that state corporations strengthen strategic goalsetting processes, promote transparent resource utilization, invest in modern technology
and employee capacity building, and establish robust monitoring and evaluation
frameworks to foster accountability and continuous improvement. In addition, the study
recommends that future research should explore the relationship between strategic
management practices and organizational culture, as well as the role of leadership and
innovation in enhancing performance within state corporations