Effects of Authentic Leadership on Governance in Kenya: A Case Study of Five County Referral Hospitals
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Date
2024-08-14
Authors
Mutemi Eunice Nduku
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Publisher
PAC University
Abstract
Authentic leadership has garnered significant attention for its potential impact on organizational governance, particularly in hospitals. This study examined the effects of authentic leadership on governance in five county referral hospitals in Kenya during the post-devolution period, which faced implementation challenges that influenced leadership and governance outcomes. The devolution, driven by the 2010 Kenyan constitution, transferred certain services from the national to the county level. Despite the recognition of authentic leadership as an effective style, its impact on the governance of health institutions in Kenya has been inadequately explored. This research aimed to assess how authentic leadership affects governance, focusing on five referral hospitals across five counties. Specific objectives included evaluating the effects of self-awareness, internalized moral perspective, balanced processing, and relational transparency among County Health Management Teams and healthcare leaders. Additionally, the study investigated the moderating effect of leadership efficacy on hospital governance. The study was anchored on authentic leadership theory, ethical leadership theory, and governance theory, employing a pragmatism philosophy with a cross-sectional research design. The target population comprised 1926 County Health Management Teams and healthcare leaders from hospitals in Kiambu, Narok, Kwale, Makueni, and Kajiado counties. Using purposive sampling, a sample size of 396 was realized. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires, yielding a 97% response rate. Validity and reliability were confirmed, with an overall reliability score of 0.960. Data analysis included demographic information, descriptive characteristics, and inferential statistics, presented in tables and figures with ethical considerations observed. Findings indicated that self-awareness (β = 0.313, ρ<0.05), balanced processing (β = 0.239, ρ<0.05), and relational transparency (β = 0.691, ρ<0.001) significantly impacted governance, while internalized moral perspective did not (β = 0.101, ρ>0.05). The moderating effect of leadership efficacy was supported (β = 0.169, ρ<0.001). The study concluded that leadership in County referral hospitals should embrace self-awareness, balanced processing, and relational transparency to enhance governance. Leadership efficacy is crucial for daily operations, and further research is needed to explore the application of internalized moral perspective. The study recommends policy development at the ministerial level to support authentic leadership practices and further research in other counties for comparative analysis.