International Journal of Management and Leadership Studies
2025; 6(i): 1155-1174
ISSN:
2311 7575
LEADERSHIP STYLES AND EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE AT THE RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND RENEWABLE ENERGY CORPORATION IN KENYA
Samatar Siyat Osman and Mr. Brown Kitur
Published:
01 December, 2025
Volume:
6
Issue:
i
Keywords:
LEADERSHIP STYLES AND EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE AT THE RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND RENEWABLE ENERGY CORPORATION IN KENYA
This study's main objective was to examine the relationship between various
leadership styles and employee productivity at Kenya's Rural Electrification and
Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC). The research intended to evaluate the
effect of transformational leadership styles on employee output at REREC,
utilizing four leadership approaches: situational, participative, transformational,
and transactional leadership. The research was structured around three theories:
the path-goal theory, situational leadership as proposed by Hersey and Blanchard,
and Keller's ARCS model of motivation. A descriptive survey methodology was
employed. The study involved 199 participants from the Finance, Human
Resources, Operations, Technical Services, Planning, and Procurement divisions
at REREC's headquarters in Nairobi County, as well as interviews with six top
managers from these divisions. A census sampling approach was used to select all
199 respondents. Both closed- and open-ended surveys were utilized, and SPSS
version 26 software was used for quantitative analysis. The investigation
determined that transformational leadership exhibited the highest positive
correlation with employee performance (r = 0.75) and was the most significant
predictor (β = 0.45, p < 0.01). Participative (r = 0.72) and situational (r = 0.70)
leadership styles also demonstrated strong positive impacts on performance.
Transactional leadership had a moderate correlation (r = 0.68) and was effective in
structured environments but less impactful for driving long-term innovation and
satisfaction. The study concluded that integrating multiple leadership approaches
tailored to organizational contexts is crucial for maximizing employee
performance. Transformational leadership, fostering motivation and engagement,
emerged as the most effective style at REREC. Recommendations included
implementing leadership development programs, enhancing employee
engagement strategies, adopting data-driven leadership approaches, and
continuously adapting leadership models to align with evolving workplace
trends.