Determining the Influence of Emotional Intelligence on Public Sector Employees’ Commitment in Kenya

Abstract

This study aims to determine the influence of emotional intelligence on the commitment of public employees in Uasin Gishu, Murang'a, and Makueni Counties, Kenya. The study's objective was to determine the influence of emotional self-awareness on the public sector employees’ commitment in the selected Counties as the representation of Kenya. The study reviewed three theories of emotional intelligence influencing employee commitment and one theory on organizational commitment. These theories were; Multiple -intelligence theory, Coleman's emotional Quotient theory, and Organizational commitment theory. The study adopted a descriptive survey design for data collection and analysis. A stratified random sampling technique has been used to draw a sample size of 126 respondents from the target population of 20600 public sector employees in Uasin Gishu, Murang’a and Makueni Counties. A total of 206 Questionnaires were used as data collection instruments. Quantitative and Qualitative methods were used for data analysis. A pilot study using 13 Questionnaires was carried out for validity and reliability testing. Descriptive data were analyzed in frequencies and percentages. Inferential statistical analysis was used to show the cause-effect among the variables, whereby linear regression analysis (ANOVA) was applied. Chi-square f–test was used on the regression analysis results for hypotheses testing. The findings were presented in tables and figures. The p-value for the independent variable co-efficient indicated that emotional self-awareness has a moderately significant positive influence on the employee commitment to the public sector in Kenya.