Adoption of Performance Contracting Implementation and Target Achievement of Academic Programmes in Public Universities in Kenya

The study determined how adoption of performance contracting implementation influences the target achievement of academic programmes in public universities in Kenya. This study used a cross-sectional study design and mixed method design. The target population of this study was 8789 postgraduate students who enrolled in 2015 and 2016, deans of schools, chairpersons of departments and principals/directors of colleges in the six colleges of the University of Nairobi. Currently, there are seven colleges in the University of Nairobi, but the latest college of Open and Distance Learning is still young to be evaluated. The study's sample size was reached at using Slovin's Formula. The current research sample size was made up of 389 respondents. The study adopted purposive sampling and simple random sampling in the selection of the sample size. Secondary and primary data helped the researcher find data and information that is relevant to the study. Questionnaires and key informant interviews were used to collect primary data. The researcher, so as to improve the research instrument's reliability and validity, conducted a pilot test. Questionnaires were distributed to the respondents which provided data that was quantitative in nature. Additionally, qualitative data was obtained from key informative interview guide and was analyzed using thematic analysis. Descriptive statistics included percentages, mean, frequency distribution, and standard deviation. Inferential statistics focused on Pearson correlation and regression analysis. Regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between the elements under investigation. It was established that adoption of performance contract implementation had a positive influence on the target achievement of academic programmes in Public Universities (?=0.348, p-value=0.000). The research established that the implementation of performance contracts in the University of Nairobi was facing resistance to change. This research recommends that the University of Nairobi should adopt change management practices such as involvement of all staff, effective communication and training.