INFLUENCE OF SPECIFICATION WRITING ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROCUREMENT PROCESS AMONG PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN EASTERN KENYA

Abstract

Procurement process plays a critical role in the success of any organization. Despite interventions to ensure a smooth procurement process, the problem of the lack of coordination between the user and procurement department has not been addressed. Therefore, this study sought to determine the influence of specification writing on the effectiveness of procurement process among Public Universities in Eastern Region of Kenya. The study employed a descriptive research design to a study population of 94 departmental heads of user departments in 5 Public Universities within Eastern Kenya. A census was conducted on all the 94 departmental heads under consideration and Primary data was obtained. Out of the 94 targeted the study managed to obtain only 91, giving a response rate of 97%. The results obtained imply that there was a significant association between supplier compliance to specification writing with p value 0.000<0.05 and chi-square value of 38.536 and effectiveness of the procurement process of public universities in Eastern region at a 5% significance level. The study established statistically significant positive effect of specification writing effectiveness of the procurement process of public universities in Eastern region at a 5% significance level with coefficients of 0.417 and p=0.000. The study concluded that public universities should encourage user departments to actively participate in terms of specification writing since it impacted positively on the effectiveness of the procurement process. The study recommends that universities should leverage focus on proper user involvement in specification writing to enhance effectiveness of procurement process in Kenya. The findings provide a basis for further research, aid policy formulation and policy makers in streamlining public procurement practices in Kenya