INTERNAL FACTORS AFFECTING PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY IN THERMAL POWER GENERATION IN KENYA

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish the factors that affect productivity in thermal power 
generation plants and also to establish how these factors affect the efficiency and progressive 
trends in these thermal power generation plants. Data was collected using questionnaires and 
interview guides that were administered by the researcher. The study was conducted on workers 
from different levels and departments which included management, technical personnel, crafts 
men and finally the chief executive officers for each plant. Two large power stations at the coast 
region were the sampling units. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics; 
the mean score of the sample for each factor was calculated. Using a 95% confidence level, the 
population score for each factor was determined. The results show that the major factors that 
affect productivity in large thermal power stations are cost of inventory, availability of spares, 
capacity utilization, effective capacity, technology, plant location, licensing and government 
regulations, ISO certification and employment incentives. From the findings in this project, it 
shows that higher productivity leads to higher efficiency and it is therefore recommended that 
policy makers should focus, analyze and manage properly the identified major factors in order to 
improve productivity in the thermal power generation plants. It is also recommended in this 
report that the stake holders in the thermal power generation stations should come with explicit 
policies articulating the importance of productivity analysis in the thermal power generation 
centers.