Abstract:
Many organizations in Kenya are increasingly providing employee welfare services as a form of improving the productivity of employees at the workplace. However, the police department in Kenya has not been able to make substantial improvement in the terms and conditions of service, provision of welfare services and security to police officers and their families. Despite this, the police service has to promote the welfare of the society by creating the conditions in which people can live and pursue their own affairs without interference. It was on this basis that the study sought to assess the role of employee welfare services on the performance of the national police service in Kisii central district. The study was based on the functional theory of labour welfare which suggests that welfare can be used to secure, preserve and develop efficiency and productivity of labour. The study employed a descriptive survey design. The study targeted a population of 382 respondents consisting of 2 top managers, 40 middle-level managers, 40 lower level managers, 200 general duty officers, 30 clerical officers, 40 special duty officers and 30 drivers. Stratified sampling was used to select a sample size of 115 respondents consisting of 1 top manager, 12 middle-level managers, 12 lower level managers, 60 general duty officers, 9 clerical officers, 12 special duty officers and 9 drivers in Kisii Central District. Self administered structured questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, weighted averages and percentages were used to analyze data. The study established that there were no proper systems of employee welfare services in Kisii central district, and those that exist were not properly implemented although they played a major role on the performance of the national police service and it therefore posed challenges on service delivery. The paper therefore recommended for a similar study to be conducted in the national police service in other districts in Kenya to compare the findings.
