STRATEGIC LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT AND SERVICE DELIVERY OF ADMINISTRATION POLICE IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA

Despite reforms outlined in the 2018–2022 National Police Service strategic plan, service delivery within the Administration Police Service (APS) remains below public expectations. The National Police Service Report (2020) indicates persistent inefficiencies in vehicle fueling, response rates, inventory management, and information flow, with Nairobi County being the most affected. Vehicle fueling costs increased by 35% in 2021, while response rates and logistics performance declined by approximately 10% nationwide. Limited research examines how logistics challenges specifically affect APS operations in Nairobi City County. This study investigated the effect of strategic logistics management on service delivery by the Administration Police within Nairobi City County, Kenya, focusing on four dimensions: transport management, inventory management, information management, and warehouse management. The study was anchored on three theories: the SERVQUAL Model, which measures service quality through reliability, responsiveness, and assurance; the Resource-Based View (RBV), which emphasizes optimal use of organizational resources for competitive advantage; and Transaction Cost Theory (TCT), which focuses on minimizing operational costs through effective coordination. A descriptive research design was employed with a target population of 4,000 Administration Police Officers. A sample of 364 respondents was determined using Yamane's formula, with data collected through structured questionnaires using a five-point Likert scale. Data analysis utilized descriptive statistics and inferential statistics including correlation and regression analysis. Regression analysis revealed that strategic logistics management dimensions collectively explained 86.1% of variance in service delivery (R² = 0.861, F = 1927.476, p < 0.001). Strategic transport management emerged as the strongest predictor (β = 0.640, p < 0.001), followed by inventory management (β = 0.598, p < 0.001), warehouse management (β = 0.544, p < 0.001), and information management (β = 0.530, p < 0.001). Strategic logistics management significantly enhances APS service delivery, with integrated implementation of transport, inventory, information, and warehouse management being crucial for operational efficiency and public satisfaction. The study recommends strengthening preventive maintenance schedules, enhancing ICT infrastructure uniformly across units, adopting automated inventory systems, implementing an integrated logistics framework, and establishing continuous training programs for officers.