Supplier Selection and Procurement Performance of Public Universities in Upper Eastern Region, Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47941/ijscl.3179Keywords:
Procurement Performance, Preliminary Evaluation, Compliance, Risk MitigationAbstract
Purpose: The study sought to determine the effect of preliminary evaluation on procurement performance in public universities in upper eastern region, Kenya. The Internal Control Theory informed the theoretical foundation of the study.
Methodology: This study employed a quantitative research design to investigate the effect of preliminary evaluation on procurement performance in public universities situated in the Upper Eastern Region of Kenya. The target population of this study was 220 professionals in all public universities in the upper eastern region, Kenya and the respondents of this study were Stores and Procurement Officers, Finance and Accounting officers and user departments. The researcher further used Slovin’s formula to derive a sample size of 142 respondents. Consequently, proportionate stratified sampling was used to determine the sample size from each stratum. The study used questionnaire as a tool of data collection. To determine the validity and reliability of the study instruments, a pilot study which comprised 10% of the study sample population was conducted in Embu University. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted to analyze the data and presentation done in form of charts and tables.
Findings: The study found that supplier evaluation significantly influences procurement performance in public universities. Preliminary evaluation showed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.716, p < 0.05), technical evaluation had a moderate correlation (r = 0.437, p < 0.05), while financial evaluation exhibited a weak but significant correlation (r = 0.249, p < 0.05). These results confirm that regulatory compliance, technical expertise, and financial capacity collectively enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve stakeholder satisfaction in procurement.
Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study enriches procurement and supply chain management literature by empirically validating the Internal Control Theory and related procurement frameworks, demonstrating that preliminary evaluation is not merely a procedural step but a strategic determinant of procurement performance. It advances theoretical understanding by showing how early-stage controls mitigate risks, enhance accountability, and strengthen the link between supplier selection and procurement outcomes.
Downloads
References
Ali, A. I., & Ismael, D. N. (2017). Role of Strategic Sourcing Process on Procurement Performance in Government Ministries in Kenya. 5(4).
Arkes, J. (2023). Regression Analysis: A practical introduction (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Butt, A. S., & Ahmad, A. B. (2019). Personal relationship and conflicts in supply chains: Exploration of buyers and suppliers in Australian manufacturing and service sector. Benchmarking, 26(7).
Changalima, Ismail, I., & Mchopa, A. (2023). Effects of supplier selection and supplier monitoring on public procurement efficiency in Tanzania: A cost-reduction perspective.
Chimwani, B. I., Iravo, M. A., & Tirimba, O. I. (2014). Factors influencing procurement performance in the Kenyan public sector: Case Study of State Law Office. International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies ISSN, 9(4).
Chu, L. Y., Rong, Y., & Zheng, H. (2022). The strategic benefit of request for proposal/quotation. Operations Research, 70(3), 1410-1427.
Coşkun, S. S., Kumru, M., & Kan, N. M. (2022). An integrated framework for sustainable supplier development through supplier evaluation based on sustainability indicators. Journal of Cleaner Production, 335, 130287.
COSO. (2013). Internal Control—Integrated Framework. Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
Edler, J., Rolfstam, M., Tsipouri, L., & Uyarra, E. (2015). Risk management in public procurement of innovation: a conceptualization. In Public Procurement for Innovation (pp. 87-109). Edward Elgar Publishing.
Gravetter, F. J., & Wallnau, L. B. (2017). Statistics for the behavioral sciences (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Hallikas, J., & Lintukangas, K. (2016). Purchasing and supply: An investigation of risk management performance. International Journal of Production Economics, 171.
Harun, M., Salema, G., & Matto, M. (2025). Achieving desired compliance performance in public procurement: Does embedding a culture of performance orientation matter? Future Business Journal, 11(1), Article 51.
Johnson, F., Leenders, M. R., & Flynn, A. E. (2021). Purchasing and supply management. McGraw-Hill Education.
Kamoni, P. M., & Rotich, G. (2018). Factors affecting the effectiveness of the supply chain of subsidized fertilizer in Kenya: A case study of the National Cereals and Produce Board. International Journal of Social Sciences and Entrepreneurship, 1(7), 140–165.
Kavinya, L., & Kihara, A. (2018). Influence of supplier appraisal criteria on procurement performance of petroleum companies in Kenya: A case of Dalbit Petroleum Limited. Academic Journal of Social Sciences and Education, 6(4).
Koros, C. C., & Kwasira, J. (2021). Influence of evaluation prequalification practices on performance of the procurement department at Moi University. International Journal of Strategic Management, 2(2), 14-27.
Krop, M., & Iravo, M. A. (2016). Effects of supplier selection on the implementation of projects in public sector: A case of West Pokot County Government. [Unpublished manuscript]. Retrieved from institutional repository.
Lesisa, T. G., Marnewick, A., & Nel, H. (2018). The Identification of Supplier Selection Criteria Within a Risk Management Framework Towards Consistent Supplier Selection. IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, 2019-December.
Makori, J. K., & Muturi, W. (2018). Influence of inventory management practices on performance of procurement function in health institutions in Kenya. A survey of selected public health institutions in western Kenya. International Academic Journal of Procurement and Supply Chain Management, 3(1).
Mulugeta, D. (2016). Factors affecting procurement performance in the case of Awassa Textile Share Company. Global Journal of Management and Business Research, 16(3), 19–27.
Munyuko, C. W. (2015). Effects of Supply Chain Risk Management on Organization Performance: Case of Andy Forwarders Services Limited. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 5(3).
Musau, E. G. (2015). Environmental Factors Affecting Procurement Performance in County Governments: A Case of Uasin Gishu County. International Journal of Business and Management Invention ISSN, 4(1).
Mutuku, S. M., Ochieng, V. O., & Sang, W. (2021). Influence of supplier selection criteria on performance of public corporations in Kenya: A case of Water Resources Authority. St. Paul’s University, Kenya.
Mwangi, N. W. (2021). Influence of Procurement Cost Optimization on Performance of Manufacturing Firms in Kenya. International Academic Journal of Procurement and Supply Chain Management, 3(2), 193-214.
Naibor, G. S., & Moronge, M. (2018). Influence of supplier selection criteria on performance of manufacturing companies in Kenya. The Strategic Journal of Business & Change Management, 5(1), 355–377.
Niyibizi, E., & Mulyungi, P. (2018). Effect of supplier evaluation on procurement performance in government ministries in Rwanda: A case of Ministry of Health. International Journal of Research in Management, Economics and Commerce, 8(7), 49–56.
Nulty, D. D. (2008). The adequacy of response rates to online and paper surveys: What can be done? Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 33(3), 301–314.
Obura, C. O. (2024). Public procurement implementation and operational performance of service state corporations in Kenya (Unpublished PhD thesis). Rikinstitute.
Oenga, N. O. (2023). Influence of procurement plan on the effectiveness of purchasing activities at Kenya Police College.
Owich, J. A., & Odero, J. A. (2023). Supplier Risk Management Practices and Performance of Supply Chain in the Health Sector in Kenya. African Journal of Empirical Research, 4(2).
Penrose, E. (1995). The Theory of the Growth of the Firm. In The Theory of the Growth of the Firm. https://doi.org/10.1093/0198289774.001.0001.
Rubin, A., & Babbie, E. R. (2010). Research methods for social work (7th ed.). Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.
Sama, H., Ndunguru, P., & Nsimbila, P. (2022). Transaction costs and competitive tendering in public procurement: Moderating role of integrity. African Journal of Business Management, 16(6).
Saputro, T. E., Figueira, G., & Almada-Lobo, B. (2022). A comprehensive framework and literature review of supplier selection under different purchasing strategies. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 167, 108010.
Saunders, M. N., & Lewis, P. (2012). Doing research in business & management: An essential guide to planning your project. Pearson. London.
Shombe E. O., & Ouma, D. (2020). Influence of supply chain management practices on procurement performance of County Government of Kakamega, Kenya. The Strategic Journal of Business & Change Management, 7(3), 80 – 88.
Spira, L. F., & Page, M. (2003). Risk management: The reinvention of internal control and the changing role of internal audit. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 16(4).
Strag, G. (2023). Improving supplier selection process in indirect purchases – Case Study (Master’s thesis). Theseus.
Viechtbauer, W., Smits, L., Kotz, D., Budé, L., Spigt, M., Serroyen, J., & Crutzen, R. (2015). A simple formula for the calculation of sample size in pilot studies. Journal of clinical epidemiology, 68(11), 1375-1379.
Wachiuri, E. W. (2019). Influence of supplier evaluation criteria on the performance of state corporations in Kenya. JKUAT.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Lydia Atieno Ogendo, Mathias Nzomo Muinde, Guyo Huka
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
