Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2017 Transformative Leadership and Its Development in Public Service Reform in Kenya Gerald Paul Regier Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the African Languages and Societies Commons, African Studies Commons, Public Administration Commons, and the Public Policy Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Gerald Regier has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. George Larkin, Committee Chairperson, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Ron Hirschbein, Committee Member, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Anthony Leisner, University Reviewer, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2017 Abstract Transformative Leadership and Its Development in Public Service Reform in Kenya by Gerald (Jerry) Paul Regier MA, Harvard University, 1989 BA, Michigan State University, 1968 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Public Administration Walden University February 2017 Abstract Leadership on the African continent has been a focus of scholars as African nations have incredible human and natural resources but seem to be bereft of the leaders necessary to capitalize on its opportunities. Researchers acknowledge that the barrier to progress in the developing world is not the deficiency of money or natural resources, but suggested it to be the lack of leadership. Researchers have demonstrated reasons for this deficiency including the effects of the colonial system upon people and civil service systems, but have yet been able to establish a promising path to economic and social progress. Leaders in Kenya provided promising solutions in the national strategic plan, Kenya Vision 2030, to move it to a first world economy within 25 years. One of the foundations of the plan was public service reform with a flagship project to establish the Kenya School of Government to develop transformative leadership training and fill the leadership gap. The purpose of this study was to investigate, understand, and describe the process and progress of this strategic goal of Kenya’s public service reform. The transformational leadership theory approach of Burns (1978) was used as the locus point for the study. Using a qualitative case study method, interview data were gathered from persons in Kenya who were integrally involved in the design and development of this strategic goal. The result of the analysis was that development of training for transformative leadership was an intentional goal which was seen as critical for national success. I described how the strategy was begun and implemented. Kenya and other developing countries may benefit from the results of this study as it provides a possible roadmap of leadership training for national progress. Transformative Leadership and Its Development in Public Service Reform in Kenya by Gerald (Jerry) Paul Regier MA, Harvard University, 1989 BA, Michigan State University, 1968 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Public Administration Walden University February 2017 Dedication This is dedicated to my wife, Sharyn, who allowed me to dream, and then encouraged me to make this dream a reality even at this stage in our lives. You have been my inspiration and wonderful life partner for the past 48 years. I also dedicate this to my four children and their spouses and our 12 grandchildren who put up with dad/grandpa always studying during this 6-year journey. Thank you to each of you. And last I dedicate this to my mother and dad, Walter & Ruby Regier. You instilled in me the foundation of values and character that have guided me all of my life. Thank you for lives you modeled for me and for my two brothers. You would be proud of this milestone and I wish you were here to share my joy. Acknowledgments I want to acknowledge the chair of my committee, my mentor and friend, Dr. Richard (Dick) Larkin, and my committee member, Dr. Ronald Hirschbein. I could not have finished this journey without your guidance, leadership, advice, and encouragement along the way of this 5-year journey. Thank you. And finally to all my friends in Kenya, especially my life-long friend Sam Owen who has lived in Kenya over 40 years and who has cheered me on, and opened many doors of opportunity along the way. I value deeply our friendship. Table of Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................1 Background ....................................................................................................................5 Kenya Vision 2030 ................................................................................................. 7 Gaps and Deficiencies in Prior Research ................................................................ 9 Importance of Present Study ................................................................................. 10 Problem Statement .......................................................................................................10 Purpose of the Study ....................................................................................................13 Research Question .......................................................................................................14 Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................14 The Concept and Its Source .................................................................................. 15 The Conceptual Framework .................................................................................. 15 The Contextual Lens ............................................................................................. 16 Logical Connections ............................................................................................. 17 Nature of the Study ......................................................................................................17 Rationale for Design of the Study ......................................................................... 17 Methodology ......................................................................................................... 19 Definitions ....................................................................................................................20 Assumptions .................................................................................................................22 Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................23 i Limitations ...................................................................................................................23 Significance ..................................................................................................................24 Summary ......................................................................................................................24 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................25 Introduction ..................................................................................................................25 Literature Establishing the Relevance of the Problem .......................................... 26 Preview of the Chapter .................................................................................................27 Literature Search Strategy ............................................................................................27 List of Research Sources ....................................................................................... 27 List of Key Search Terms ..................................................................................... 28 Description of Iterative Search Process ................................................................ 28 Theoretical Foundation ................................................................................................29 Theories ................................................................................................................. 30 Description of Major Theoretical Propositions ..................................................... 30 Literature Based Analysis of Previous Theoretical Application ........................... 42 Relationship of Theory to Present Study .............................................................