Communication Mechanisms and Job Productivity Among Public Secondary School Teachers in Machakos County, Kenya

Purpose: The fundamental part of any school is staff communication and staff performance in teaching. When principals practice effective communication with their staff and recognize what each teacher contributes, productivity can be realized. This study aimed to determine the role of communication mechanisms in job productivity among secondary school teachers in Machakos County. Methodology: The research used a correlation research design. The target population was the 5869 teachers and 396 principals in the 396 public secondary schools in Machakos County. The researcher used a simple random sampling method to identify 97 teachers who formed the study sample. Data was collected using questionnaires. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson Correlation Coefficient, while qualitative data was analysed through narrative analysis. Results: The study findings indicated that communication mechanisms influenced job productivity. Further, correlation analysis indicated there was a significant positive relationship between communication mechanisms and job productivity (rho = 0.606, p-value < 0.05), among public secondary school teachers in Machakos County. Implication: Training in communication process has ensured job productivity. Effective communication ensured job productivity in their schools. Lateral communication has improved the teachers’ job productivity. The study recommends that principals should shift towards a more inclusive and participatory communication model that empowers teachers to voice their opinions, share feedback, and contribute to decision-making processes.