Strategic leadership and Change management in the County Government of Bungoma, Kenya: The moderating effect of Stakeholder Engagement

The advent of County Governments in 2013 made many Kenyans optimistic that these devolved governments would deliver on public services more effectively compared to its predecessor. Nevertheless, the execution of various county plans, including the County Integrated Development Plans (CIDP), has not achieved the anticipated outcomes in numerous counties. Data from the Kenyan Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) reveals that merely 30% of change initiatives within Kenyan county governments are fully implemented. Strategic leadership and stakeholder engagement has been touted as a possible remedy to such scenarios. This study explored the relationship between strategic leadership and change management in Bungoma County's local governance, specifically investigating how stakeholder engagement moderates this relationship. Anchored on strategic leadership theory, the study conducted a census of 73 respondents, adhering to a positivist paradigm and utilizing a causal research design. Data was collected using questionnaires. A pilot was conducted in Kakamega County to ensure data quality. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 26 for inferential statistics. The findings revealed that strategic leadership has significant statistical effect on change management. Stakeholder engagement was found to have significant moderating influence on the relationship between strategic leadership and change management. The study concluded that stakeholder engagement significantly moderated the relationship between strategic leadership and change management in County Governments of Bungoma, Kenya. To improve management outcomes, it is recommended that the County Government of Bungoma focus on strengthening its strategic leadership practices, particularly in the areas of strategic planning, corporate culture and organizational control. This could be achieved through targeted leadership development programs that equip managers with the necessary skills to effectively lead change initiatives.