Training Practice and Employee Commitment in Selected County Governments in Kenya

Abstract

Purpose: The study assessed the effect of training practice on employee commitment in selected county governments in Kenya.

Material/methods: The study was anchored on Transformative Learning Theory and adopted a mixed research design integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches. Proportionate sampling was used to select five county governments out of forty-seven. From a target population of 12,990 employees, a sample of 384 respondents was selected through stratified sampling. A pilot test was conducted to reduce instrumentation errors, strengthen reliability, and assess internal consistency. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics (means and standard deviations) and regression analysis to test the effect of training practice on employee commitment.

Findings: The regression results revealed that training practice had a positive and statistically significant effect on employee commitment in the selected county governments in Kenya. This indicates that stronger training practices are associated with higher levels of employee commitment.

Conclusion: The study concludes that training practice is significantly related to employee commitment in the selected county governments in Kenya. Enhancing training practices is therefore important for strengthening employee commitment and supporting effective public service delivery.

Value: The study provides evidence to inform human resource development in county governments by demonstrating that well-designed training practices contribute to employee commitment. It recommends strengthening training systems through training needs assessments, clear training goals, and structured training feedback to enhance employee competence, autonomy, and commitment. This can improve employee professionalism, reduce the need for close supervision, and enhance productivity and service quality in county administrations.