dc.description.abstract |
Ministry of Energy and Petroleum in Kenya has a vital role in supporting the Kenya
government’s development agenda. Despite having records management systems in
place, service delivery at the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum has been poor and
inefficient. This state has been brought about by inadequate records management
systems. Badly managed records adversely affect development agenda. Development
projects are often difficult to implement and sustain effectively and efficiently in the
absence of well managed records. The aim of the study was to investigate the application
of records management best practices for service delivery at the Mjectives of the study
were to: determine the types of records available at the Ministry of Energy and
Petroleum, establish the application of records management best practices for service
delivery, establish the adequacy of records management policies, determine the
challenges encountered in the application of records management best practices, and
suggest strategies appropriate to records management best practices for service delivery.
The study was informed by the records continuum model and the service quality gap
model. A qualitative research approach with some aspects of quantitative techniques was
adopted. The study population was 500 staff from which a sample of 60 respondents was
randomly selected. Interview schedules and observation checklist were used in data
collection. Qualitative data was presented and analyzed thematically while quantitative
data was analyzed using tables and percentages. The findings of the study revealed that
daily business operations were transacted on a manual records management system which
was cumbersome. The computers were networked but underutilized. A records
management policy was not in place to support the records management system. The
central records management unit’s room was small hence difficult to accommodate the
staff, equipment, furniture and the records. The study concludes that application of
records management best practices for service delivery was hampered by inadequate
application of contemporary records management systems and acute shortage of records
management professionals. The study recommends that Ministry of Energy and
Petroleum should automate its records management system through adoption of
integrated records management system. Further shortage of space should be addressed by
purchasing mobile compact cabinets and modern workstations. Finally, the central
records management unit should be allocated a vote head to support development of a
records management policy, application of integrated records management system,
training of staff, and purchase of modern equipment and furniture. |
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