Effect of Employee Rewards and Recognition on Job Performance in Kenya's Public Sector, A Case Study of Nakuru Water and Sanitation Services Company Ltd

Employee Engagement is an attribute that measures an employees commitment to a given organization that they work for. Despite various forms of engagements employed by various employers, Employee performance remains an area of concern among various organizations. The study therefore sought to establish the effect of employee engagement on job performance in Kenyas public sector, taking a case study of Nakuru Water and Sanitation Company Limited. The study employed a descriptive research design. The target population comprised of 49 employees of Nakuru Water and Sanitation Company. A census method was used since the sample was equal to the target population. A pilot test was then conducted on 5 respondents which were randomly selected with the objective of determining both reliability and validity of the research instrument (Questionnaire). The researcher also used the Cronbach alpha to test for reliability of the instrument while the content validity of the instrument was determined by seeking the expert opinion of the University supervisors. A structured questionnaire was then administered to the respondents which captured the respondents profile and data relevant to all the study variables. Data was collected, processed and then analyzed by use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) tool. Data was then analyzed both descriptively and inferentially. The findings of the study are presented in form of tables for summary statistics (descriptive and inferential statistics). The study concluded that organizational support and growth opportunities foster learning which enhances employee competence. It was further concluded that engaged employees are more involved in organizations issues and perform better. The findings also led to the conclusion that employees would work harder if they are recognized more. The study recommended that organizations should provide growth and development opportunities for their employees in attempts to enhance their competence and performance.