The mediating effect of employee commitment on organizational citizenship behavior and employee performance among employees in the electricity companies in Kenya

Abstract

This study aimed to establish the mediating effect of employee commitment on the relationship between organizational citizenship behavior and employee performance among the employees of electricity companies in Kenya. The paper was based on positivism, with stratified sampling technique used to collect data. Questionnaire which was self-administered was designed into five sections and 7-points Likert used to rate respondents’ responses. Sample size of 422 was drawn from a target population of 2,2887 employees of KenGen and Kenya Power, in Kenya. To analyze data, descriptive statistics, correlation coefficient, test statistics and hierarchical regression were applied. Results showed higher effect on direct association between organizational citizenship behavior and employee performance in the absence of a mediator (.641, p.000). When employee commitment is introduced, the effect is reduced (.511, p.000). However, the effect of employee commitment is positive, (B=.131, LLCI=082, ULCI=.187). Meaning that the effect partial and complementary. The questionnaires administered were 422, successfully completed were 398. Three (3) were incomplete, leaving 395 valid for analysis. The study used cross-sectional data collection method which was limiting. This paper delivers empirical evidence which gives insight on significant positive effect of direct relationship between organizational citizenship behavior and employee performance, and partial mediating effect of employee commitment. The ultimate result provides valuable information for policymakers and human resource management practitioners. Empirically, it expands the body of knowledge, while adds to the available literature on the subject matter.