Impact of Performance Management on Resource Utilization and Improved Results in Kenyan TVET Institutions

Abstract

Performance management in Kenya’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions has been anchored on performance contracts and individual performance appraisals to enhance accountability, resource utilization, and service delivery. This study sought to: examine the performance management process in Kenyan TVET institutions, assess the impact of performance contracting on resource utilization and institutional results, evaluate the influence of performance appraisal on institutional performance and service quality, identify challenges and gaps in implementation and provide recommendations for strengthening performance management practices. The study adopted a desktop research design that relied exclusively on secondary data obtained from academic journals, dissertations, and government publications by the Ministry of Education, TVETA, and the Public Service Commission. Official performance contracting and appraisal guidelines, institutional evaluation reports, and credible online sources were also reviewed. Searches were conducted through databases such as Google Scholar and ERIC using combinations of key terms related to performance management and TVET outcomes. Materials published from 2009 onwards were prioritized to reflect sustained implementation periods. Data were thematically analyzed, and narrative synthesis with simple vote counting was used to identify convergence across findings. The results indicate that performance contracting has moderately improved the utilization of teaching and learning resources, while structured performance appraisals are linked to enhanced service delivery and accountability. However, these gains are uneven due to inadequate staff training, limited resources, inconsistent target setting, and perceptions of the process as a bureaucratic formality. The study concludes that while performance management frameworks foster a culture of efficiency and results, their success depends on effective implementation, continuous training, staff participation, and adequate resource support. Strengthening ICT infrastructure, standardizing practices, and enhancing feedback mechanisms are essential to realizing sustainable institutional improvements across Kenya’s TVET sector.