Factors Affecting Successful Adoption of E-Government in Kenya’s Public Sector

A Project Report by Beatrice Muthoni Muraya, Submitted to the Chandaria School of Business, USIU-A in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Masters in Business Administration (MBA)The purpose of this research study was to identify factors that affect successful adoption of E-government in the Kenya’s public sector. The study was guided by four research questions that are as follows: To what extent does Infrastructure affect E-government adoption in Kenya? To what extent does Policy affect E-government adoption in Kenya? To what extent does Security affect E-government adoption in Kenya? And To what extent do Social factors affect E-government adoption in Kenya? The study used descriptive research design. The target population comprised of 450 ICT officers in all Government Ministries. Stratified random sampling method was used to select the sample. The respondents included senior management officers, operations officers and technicians in the Ministries. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Collecting and analysing data from 10 respondents to measure its level of reliability and relevance first piloted the questionnaire. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and interpreted in frequencies and percentages. The results are presented in figures and tables. The major findings of the study with regard to infrastructure revealed that this factor plays a major role in E-government adoption. This is exhibited by a positive correlation that was found after a regression done on Infrastructure in relation to E-government adoption. These findings were further confirmed by a combined regression analysis done on all the four factors. The results gave Infrastructure a substantial percentage in relation to E-government adoption. Accessibility and availability were also identified as critical issues under Infrastructure that affect the adoption of E-government. From this study, the major findings on Policy factor revealed that E-government adoption in the public sector is affected by ICT Policies. Policy acts as a framework that streamlines ICT activities in any public sector environment. After a combined regression on the four factors, Policy came third in level to which it affects E-government adoption. On Security factor and E-government adoption, it was established that Social factors affects E-government adoption. From the combined regression done, Security came second from Social factors, forming the second major factor in E-government adoption. Further, the results showed a strong positive significant relationship between Security and the E-government adoption. Finally, on Social factors relation to E-government adoption, a positive significant relationship was established at a huge percentage compared to other factors. From these findings, one would conclude that Social factors greatly affect E-government adoption if compared to the other factors. The conclusion drawn from the study is that all the four factors affect E-government adoption with Social factors taking the lead, followed by Security, then Policy factor and Infrastructure. These findings are different if you compare them with the literatures reviewed which place Infrastructure first followed by Policy then Security and finally Social factors. From this conclusion, the study recommends that the government should enhance Internet connectivity to enhance easy E-government adoption. The existing Infrastructure should be regularly maintained to enhance availability and accessibility. The study also recommends development and regular review of existing ICT policies, standards and regulations to enable the government keep up with the pace of the requirements of E-government adoption. The study further recommends that the government should put in place IT Information Security mechanisms that would guarantee substantial security especially with respect to misuse of users’ personal information for the purpose that it was not intended for. Additionally there is need to carry out Citizens security awareness programs so as to make them aware of the threat posed by online fraudsters who use social engineering mechanisms to solicit for information. Finally there is the need to develop a social fabric that will act as a framework for the adoption of E-government while putting into consideration all the social factors that might pose a challenge to the adoption of E-government