Organizational Culture as a Determinant of Performance: Empirical Evidence from Water Sector institutions in Western Kenya
Keywords:
Organizational Culture, Organizational Performance, Strategic ImplementationAbstract
Purpose: This study examined the influence of organizational culture on organizational performance within water sector institutions in Western Kenya. Specifically, it focused on how shared values, personnel behaviors, and organizational routines shape institutional effectiveness.
Methodology: Data were collected from 247 employees working in water service providers across Kakamega, Busia, Vihiga, and Bungoma counties. A combination of purposive and stratified sampling techniques was used to ensure adequate representation across different organizational levels.
Findings: The results revealed that organizational culture has a weak but statistically significant positive relationship with organizational performance (r = 0.165, p < 0.05). Additionally, organizational culture showed moderate positive correlations with resource management (r = 0.505, p < 0.01) and leadership style (r = 0.487, p < 0.01). Regression analysis further indicated that organizational culture is a modest predictor of organizational performance (β = 0.165, p < 0.05). These findings imply that while culture contributes to performance, its impact is more substantial when reinforced by other strategic factors.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study extends organizational culture theory by demonstrating its contextual relevance within public water institutions in Kenya. Practically, it highlights the need for integrating cultural values into management systems and enhancing employee engagement. From a policy perspective, it shows the importance of aligning organizational culture with leadership practices and resource management strategies to improve service.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19369876
References
Akpa, V. O., Asikhia, O. U., & Nneji, N. E. (2021). Organizational Culture and Organizational Performance: a Review of Literature. Organizational Culture and Organizational Performance: A Review of Literature, 3(1). https://www.publications.calebuniversity.edu.ng/caleb_uploads/2024/04/Organizational-Culture-and-Organizational-Performance-A-Review-of-Literature.pdf
Akuche, C. C., & Akindoyin, D. I. (2025). Issues Impeding Development in Sub-Sahara African States: A Review. Covenant University Journal of Politics and International Affairs. https://journals.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/index.php/cujpia/article/view/5003
Ariawaty, R. R. N. (2020). IMPROVE EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE THROUGH ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND EMPLOYEE COMMITMENTS. JURNAL APLIKASI MANAJEMEN, 18(2), 318–325. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.jam.2020.018.02.12
Baariu, L. K. (2021, August 1). Influence of Strategic Change Management on the Performance of County Development Projects in Meru County, Kenya. Repository.kemu.ac.ke. http://repository.kemu.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1307
Handage, S., & Chander, M. (2021). Development of an Instrument for Measuring the Student Learning Outcomes: A Content Validation Process. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 57(03), 01–07. https://doi.org/10.48165/ijee.2021.57302
Hantiro, S. B., & Maina, R. (2020). Strategy Implementation and Performance of Tana River County Government, Kenya. Journal of Strategic Management, 4(1), 16–34. https://stratfordjournalpublishers.org/journals/index.php/journal-of-strategic-management/article/view/456
Haruna, S. (2023). A Phonological Study of Consonants and Vowels Phonemic Merger in Hausa. British Journal of Multidisciplinary and Advanced Studies, 4(3), 45–59. https://doi.org/10.37745/bjmas.2022.0196
Ingati, C. J., Mbuge, D. O., & Mbuya, T. O. (2024). Addressing the Challenges of Economic Water Scarcity in Kenya: Multi-Barrier and Multilateral Integrated Approach Systems for Sustainable Access to Safe Drinking Water A Review. Journal of Sustainable Development, 18(1), 29–29. https://doi.org/10.5539/jsd.v18n1p29
Kudaibergenova, R. M., Bolatbek, A. B., Spanov, M. U., Baibazarova, E. A., Orynbayev, S. A., Murzakasymova, N. S., & Kabdushev, A. A. (2025). State Regulation and Strategic Management of Water Resources and Wastewater Treatment at the Regional Level: Institutional and Technological Solutions. Water, 18(1), 63. https://doi.org/10.3390/w18010063
Maika, L. K. (2020, September 9). Effects of organisational culture on strategy implementation in water boards in Kenya. Repository.seku.ac.ke. http://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6085
Mulwa, F., Li, Z., & Fangninou, F. F. (2021). Water Scarcity in Kenya: Current Status, Challenges and Future Solutions. OALib, 08(01), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1107096
Mutschinski, K., & Coles, N. A. (2021). The African Water Vision 2025: its influence on water governance in the development of Africa’s water sector, with an emphasis on rural communities in Kenya: a review. Water Policy, 23(4). https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2021.032
Radu, C. (2023, October 25). Fostering a Positive Workplace Culture: Impacts on Performance and Agility. Www.intechopen.com; IntechOpen. https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/1170791?ref=remote4africa
Siedlecki, S. L. (2020). Understanding descriptive research designs and methods. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 34(1), 8–12. ResearchGate. https://doi.org/10.1097/NUR.0000000000000493
Sweya, L. N., Wilkinson, S., Kassenga, G., & Mayunga, J. (2019). Developing a tool to measure the organizational resilience of Tanzania’s water supply systems. Global Business and Organizational Excellence, 39(2), 6–19. https://doi.org/10.1002/joe.21985
WASREB. (2025). REPUBLIC OF KENYA A Performance Report of Kenya’s Water Services Sector 2023/24. https://wasreb.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMPACT-REPORT-17.pdf
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Elizabeth Kiasyo Kyulu, Jane Munga and Dorothy Kirimi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are properly credited.
