Procedural and Institutional Challenges on the Practice of Integrity and Ethical Practices in the Public Sector in Kenya

Abstract

World over, public officials have often been embroiled in scandals of varying magnitude. The genesis for most of these scandals is the gradual deterioration in ethical behavior of public officials, which has given rise to all kinds of malpractices. This has triggered an outcry from various stakeholders, especially the general public, for the development and implementation of policies that address ethics, integrity, transparency, accountability and professionalism, to promote accountability in the management of public resources and improve public sector results. This study sought out to investigate the challenges of ethics, accountability, transparency, integrity and professionalism in the public service. It specifically discussed how procedural factors and institutional factors impede the practice of integrity and ethical practices in Kenya's public service. The paper anchored its study on the Public Choice Theory and Broken Window Theory. The paper relied on primary data collected from the ethics and anti-corruption commission office. Procedural factors and institutional factors were found to be satisfactory in explaining integrity and ethical practices in the public sector. This is supported by coefficient of determination also known as the R square of 72.4%. This means that procedural factors and institutional factors explain 72.4% of the variations in integrity and ethical practices. The R2 before moderation was 72.4% but after moderation the R2 improved to 75.9%. This implies that legal framework enhances the provision of integrity and ethical practices in the public sector. Regression analysis indicated that procedural factors and integrity and ethical practices in the public sector had a positive and significant relationship (r=.228, p=0.030). It was also found that institutional factors and integrity and ethical practices in the public sector have a positive and significant relationship (r=.390, p=0.000). The study concluded that procedural factors and institutional factors, challenge integrity and ethical practices in the public sector in Kenya. The study recommends the revision of procedures in investigating and prosecuting individuals who commit economic crimes. The procedures should be systematic and supported legally. The study recommends the cooperation of various government institutions in taming and fighting graft. The various institutions include department of Criminal Investigation, EACC, the Judiciary, civil society and the religious groups. When this entire group pulls together, graft in Kenya will be rooted out. The study recommends the facilitation of all institutions by enhancing their capacity and capability in fighting graft. There should be clear law on economic crime that is testable in the court of law