Effectiveness of Performance Contract Planning in Enhancement of Development of Physical Infrastructure in Public Technical Training Institutions in Kenya: A Study Across Technical Training Institutes in Kakamega County.

Abstract

The government of Kenya invests heavily in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). This has necessitated signing Performance Contracts to ensure that the resources allocated to TVET institutions are prudently utilized to achieve the intended goals. Infrastructure development in TVET institutions is critical for trainees to develop the desired competences fully. The objective of the study was to examine the effectiveness of Performance Contract (PC) planning in enhancing development of physical infrastructure. The Context, Input, Process and Product (CIPP) evaluation model by Daniel L. Stufflebeam (1966) was used to examine the effectiveness of performance contract planning in enhancing the development of physical infrastructure in public TVET institutions in Kenya. The study established that while Performance Contracts planning was effective in instilling accountability and providing a sense of institutional direction, its effectiveness in driving tangible infrastructure development was undermined by limited inclusivity of stakeholders, poor alignment with available resources, and unrealistic ambition. Quantitatively, 25 of 30 projects (83%) reviewed by PC Coordinators were executed with alignment to both strategic priorities and available resources, while 5 projects (17%) experienced partial alignment due to funding delays or internal resource limitations. This aligns with observed implementation outcomes, where Government of Kenya funded projects had higher completion rates (average evaluation score 82%) than internally funded projects (average evaluation score 50%). Performance Contracting planning were effective in setting strategic intentions and producing comprehensive documents however, the processes were weakened by poor feasibility assessment. The study concluded that Performance Contracting in enhancing development of physical infrastructure was effective as more than 80% of the infrastructure targets were achieved. The study recommended Planning, that mandate structured consultation with principals, Heads of Departments, technical staff, and implement make it a requirement that all planning processes incorporate feasibility studies and audits of available financial, technical, and human resources, thereby reducing the likelihood of stalled or partially completed projects. The findings of the study are significant to the Government of Kenya Policy Formulation and review in Performance Contracting, Principals of public Technical Training Institutes who make proposals and Researchers in related fields by providing baseline information.