Budget absorption performance in public sector, a case of ministry of agriculture, animal industry and fisheries, (MAAIF).

Abstract

The study examined the budget absorption performance of Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF). The study aimed at establishing the budget absorption performance trends in MAAIF, finding out the factors influencing budget absorption performance in MAAIF and suggesting strategies for enhancing budget absorption performance in MAAIF. A descriptive design was adopted for this study and applied convergent mixed methods where the researcher collected both quantitative and qualitative approach was used. A sample size of 75 respondents was selected and the response rate was 67 respondents (89.3%). Purposive sample technique was used to select members of top management while, a simple random technique was used to select middle level and lower level staff. Quantitative data analysis mainly consisted of descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation and percentages). Narrative analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Findings revealed that MAAIF spends funds on budgeted activities for the past five years and the proportion of budget absorption rate has been increasing for the past five years at MAAIF. It was further noted that MAAIF does not receiving funds in time to finance its activities over the past five years; money received by MAAIF has been reallocated and disbursed for other purposes for the past five years and over the past five years and not all planned outputs have been achieved at MAAIF. The findings also identified factors that affected budget absorption performance in MAAIF as ; not managing the budget according to the constitution and the supporting regulations, not executing the budget as per the approved programmes and government not making available resources for use on time and sending inadequate funds as per the MAAIF project budgets; not recruited enough staff to implement its projects ; staff training and sensitization are not undertaken regularly on budget absorption performance strategies, MAAIF does not submit the annual budget performance report in time as stipulated by the regulation curtailing effective monitoring and accountability of the funds advanced to the vote to be done in time and procurements are undertaken within the planned contract signature timelines affecting service delivery and makes projects more costly. The study recommended that MAAIF should liaise with MoFPED so that provide adequate funds in the budget and release in time, ensure that the budget process laws and regulations are adhered to, and prioritize recruitment of staff to bridge the staffing gap to enhance Ministry‘s capacity to effectively deliver its mandate.