DIGITAL PRESENCE AND PERFORMANCE OF KITUI COUNTY GOVERNMENT, KENYA

Abstract: County governments in Kenya face mounting pressure to modernise service delivery and improve performance amid constrained fiscal resources and growing citizen expectations. This study investigated the effect of digital presence on the performance of the Kitui County Government in Kenya. Four specific objectives guided the research: to explore the effects of digital hardware, virtual communication, digital storage, and data usage on county government performance. The study was anchored on the Resource-Based View (RBV) theory, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and the Diffusion of Innovation Theory. A descriptive research design was employed, with a census of all 61 employees in the Ministry of Information, Communication, and Technology of Kitui County Government. A structured questionnaire was the primary data collection tool, piloted with six ICT staff from Machakos County. Content validity and Cronbach's alpha reliability testing (? = 0.771) confirmed the instrument's suitability. Diagnostic tests for normality (Shapiro-Wilk), multicollinearity (VIF), and autocorrelation (Durbin-Watson) confirmed the fitness of the regression model. Multiple regression analysis revealed that digital hardware (? = 0.263, p = 0.004), virtual communication (? = 0.314, p = 0.002), digital storage (? = 0.229, p = 0.003), and data usage (? = 0.235, p = 0.002) each had a statistically significant positive effect on county performance, collectively explaining 71.2% of the variance (Adjusted R? = 0.712). The study concludes that a robust digital presence is a critical driver of improved service delivery, transparency, citizen engagement, and operational efficiency in county governance. It recommends strategic investment in digital infrastructure, cloud-based storage solutions, structured virtual communication frameworks, and open data initiatives to enhance county government performance. Keywords: Digital Presence, Digital Hardware, Virtual Communication, Digital Storage, Data Usage, County Government Performance, Kenya, Kitui County, e-Government. Title: DIGITAL PRESENCE AND PERFORMANCE OF KITUI COUNTY GOVERNMENT, KENYA Author: Faith Nzisa Mwangangi, Josphat Kyalo International Journal of Management and Commerce Innovations ISSN 2348-7585 (Online) Vol. 14, Issue 1, April 2026 - September 2026 Page No: 583-590 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 12-June-2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20666812 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/digital-presence-and-performance-of-kitui-county-government-kenya