Public Service Efficiency through AGPO Implementation Among Water Companies in Murang’a County, Kenya

Abstract

Equitable access to government procurement opportunities (AGPO) is a strategic policy mechanism aimed at promoting inclusive participation and enhancing public service delivery. Despite nearly a decade of implementation, AGPO’s impact remains mixed with persistent challenges, including limited access to procurement information, low contract absorption rates, inadequate technical and financial capacity among beneficiary groups, and weak compliance by procuring entities. This study evaluated the effect of access to government procurement opportunities on the service delivery of water companies in Murang’a County. The investigation was guided by the Agency Theory, which emphasises the importance of effective delegation and accountability between procuring entities and suppliers in achieving optimal service outcomes. The study employed a descriptive survey design, targeting management staff across licensed water companies within Murang’a County. The population of this study consisted of 240 employees working in the procurement department and heads of the user department drawn from the five water companies in Murang’a County. Yamane’s formula was used to arrive at a sample size of 150 respondents. Data was gathered through questionnaires and analysed using regression analysis to determine the statistical relationship between access to procurement opportunities and service delivery outcomes. The regression results revealed that AGPO had a positive unstandardized coefficient of 0.472, with a corresponding p-value of 0.000, which is far below the conventional threshold of 0.05, indicating that the relationship between AGPO and service delivery is both strong and statistically significant. Hence, the null hypothesis was rejected, leading to the conclusion that AGPO implementation significantly improves service delivery in water companies. The study recommends that county governments and oversight bodies intensify AGPO policy implementation by increasing transparency, minimising access barriers, and equipping staff with procurement inclusion skills. As a policy recommendation, the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) and the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) should jointly develop AGPO compliance guidelines tailored to water service providers to promote equity, efficiency, and improved public service outcomes.