Authors :
Zipporah Wanjiru Kimani; Isabella Sile
Volume/Issue :
Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 10 - October
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/33j9n4t7
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/56ckpjaf
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25oct805
Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.
Note : Google Scholar may take 30 to 40 days to display the article.
Abstract :
This study investigated internal financial control policy, and financial budget implementation on financial
accountability within Kenyan county governments, with a specific focus on Murang'a County. The research was anchored
on Agency Theory and Systems Theory, which provided the framework for analyzing the principal-agent dynamics and the
interconnectedness of control components within the county's financial systems. The study employed a cross-sectional
research design and collected primary data from 80 respondents within the Department of Finance and Economic Planning
of Murang'a County, selected using a stratified sampling technique. Data was gathered via structured questionnaires and
analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics, including correlation and multiple linear regression, with the aid
of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The key findings revealed significant positive relationships between
financial accountability and each of the following variables: internal financial control policies, and financial budget
implementation, Regression analysis indicated that these four variables collectively accounted for 66.3% of the variation in
financial accountability, The study concludes that robust internal control systems are fundamental to enhancing financial
accountability in devolved governments. Consequently, it is recommended that county governments should prioritize
strengthening budget execution processes, intensifying fraud awareness campaigns, and reinforcing internal control policies
and risk assessment mechanisms to ensure greater fiscal transparency and stewardship of public funds.
Keywords :
Internal Control Systems, Financial Accountability, Financial Budget Implementation, Financial Budget Implementations.
References :
- Bdi, R. (2022). Impact of internal controls on financial performance in Mogadishu’s private banks. International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), 3(3), 2319–7064.
- Abdullahi, M. H., & Muturi, W. (2016). Effect of internal control systems on the financial performance of higher education institutions in Puntland. International Journal of Economics, Commerce, and Management, 4(12), 762–780.
- Adagye, I. D. (2015). Effective internal control system in the Nasarawa State tertiary educational institutions for efficiency: A case of Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia. International Journal of Educational and Pedagogical Sciences, 9(11), 3902–3907.
- Ahmed, S. O., & Kosgei, M. (2023). Internal controls and financial performance of the county government of Lamu, Kenya. International Academic Journal of Economics and Finance, 4(1), 21–36.
- Amudo, A., & Inanga, E. (2019). Evaluation of internal control systems on regional member countries of East African Development Bank: A case study from Uganda.
- Aulia, D., Hazmi, Y., Isnani, I., & Khairunnisa, M. (2024). The importance of internal control in accounting information systems. West Science Interdisciplinary Studies, 2(08), 1516–1524. https://doi.org/10.58812/wsis.v2i08.1076
- Bayyoud, M. (2015). The impact of internal control and risk management on banks in Palestine. International Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences, 3(3), 156–162. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijefm.20150303.12
- Bett, J. C., & Memba, F. S. (2017). Effects of internal control on the financial performance of processing firms in Kenya: A case of Menengai Company. International Journal of Recent Research in Commerce, Economics, and Management, 4(1), 105–115.
- Chebungwe, N., & Kwasira, J. (2018). Assessment of internal control systems on financial performance in tertiary training institutions in Kenya: A case study of AIRDSs. International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), 3(3), 2319–7064.
- Ejoh, N., & Ejom, P. (2019). The impact of budget implementation on financial performance of tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 5(16), 133–143.
- Galgallo, G. D. (2021). Impact of internal control systems on financial accountability in county governments in Kenya: A case of Marsabit County (Doctoral dissertation, University of Nairobi).
- Hamed, R. (2023). The role of internal control systems in ensuring financial performance sustainability. Sustainability, 15(13), 10206. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310206
- Henk, O. (2020). Internal control through the lens of institutional work: A systematic literature review. Journal of Management Control, 31(3), 239–273. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00187-020-00301-4
- Ibrahim, M. (2021). Financial accountability in public sector procurement performance. Advances in Accounting, 6, 111–126.
- Iravonga, A. J., Ngala, C., Alala, B. O., & Maingi, M. (2023). Effect of integrated financial management information systems on financial management in county governments, Kenya. African Journal of Empirical Research, 4(2), 23–31. https://doi.org/10.51867/ajernet.4.2.7
- Jiang, Y., & Cobblah, P. K. (2020). Assessment of government internal control systems on financial reporting quality in Ghana: A case study of Ghana Revenue Authority. International Journal of Economics and Finance, 10(11), 40–50.
- Kamau, J., Rotich, G., & Anyango, W. (2017). Effect of budgeting process on budget performance of state corporations in Kenya: A case of Kenyatta National Hospital. International Academic Journal of Human Resource and Business Administration, 2(3), 225–281.
- Kibor, N. J., Kibati, P., & Kiprop, S. (2019). Effect of financial management practices on financial performance of county governments in Kenya: A case study of Nakuru County. International Journal of Business Management and Processes, 5(3), 24–33.
- Mati, M. K. (2022). Effect of internal control practices on financial performance of commercial state corporations in Kenya (Doctoral dissertation, University of Nairobi).
- Molu, S. W., & Jagongo, A. (2025). Internal control constraints and performance of revenue collection in Marsabit County. Asian Journal of Economics, Finance and Management, 7(1), 558–574. https://doi.org/10.56557/ajefm/2025/v7i1295
- Mungai, D. K., Maina, M., & Kungu, J. N. (2021). Effect of internal control systems on financial performance of public universities in Kenya. Research Journal of Finance and Accounting, 12(16), 80–94.
- Mungai, O., & Nasieku, T. (2015). Factors affecting budget execution by county governments in Kenya. International Journal of Science and Research, 1365–1371.
- Namujja, R. (2020). Effects of internal control activities on service delivery in the private health sector in Uganda. [Master’s thesis, Uganda Martyrs University]. http://dissertations.umu.ac.ug/xmlui/handle/123456789/339
- Njiru, D. (2016). Effect of internal controls on the financial performance of public water companies in Kenya (Doctoral dissertation, KCA University).
- Omondi, M. A. (2021). Internal control systems and financial accountability in national public secondary schools in Kenya (Doctoral dissertation, JKUAT-COHRED).
- Onyango, R. O. (2014). Influence of internal controls on performance of county governments in Kenya (Doctoral dissertation, University of Nairobi).
- Oyucho, K. (2022). Budgetary control as a measure of financial performance of state corporations in Kenya. International Journal of Accounting and Taxation, 9(11), 302–307.
- Rono, A. C., Kingori, G., & Kemboi, R. (2024). Relationship between internal control practices and service delivery of county governments in Nairobi Metropolitan Area, Kenya. EPRA International Journal of Economics, Business and Management Studies, 65–72. https://doi.org/10.36713/epra18012
- Rugutt, W. K. (2019). Public financial management reform strategies and performance of selected county governments in Kenya (Master’s thesis, University of Kabianga).
- Tuwei, R. J. (2021). Effect of internal control elements on organizational performance of level-5 public hospitals in Nairobi County (Doctoral dissertation, KCA University).
- Yahya, I. A. (2018). Relationship between internal control practices and financial performance of commercial state corporations in Kenya (Doctoral dissertation, University of Nairobi).
- Ziorklui, J. E. K., Ampofo, F. O., Nyonyoh, N., & Antwi, B. O. (2024). Effectiveness of internal control mechanisms in preventing and detecting fraud. Finance & Accounting Research Journal, 6(7), 1259–1272. https://doi.org/10.51594/farj.v6i7.1322
This study investigated internal financial control policy, and financial budget implementation on financial
accountability within Kenyan county governments, with a specific focus on Murang'a County. The research was anchored
on Agency Theory and Systems Theory, which provided the framework for analyzing the principal-agent dynamics and the
interconnectedness of control components within the county's financial systems. The study employed a cross-sectional
research design and collected primary data from 80 respondents within the Department of Finance and Economic Planning
of Murang'a County, selected using a stratified sampling technique. Data was gathered via structured questionnaires and
analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics, including correlation and multiple linear regression, with the aid
of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The key findings revealed significant positive relationships between
financial accountability and each of the following variables: internal financial control policies, and financial budget
implementation, Regression analysis indicated that these four variables collectively accounted for 66.3% of the variation in
financial accountability, The study concludes that robust internal control systems are fundamental to enhancing financial
accountability in devolved governments. Consequently, it is recommended that county governments should prioritize
strengthening budget execution processes, intensifying fraud awareness campaigns, and reinforcing internal control policies
and risk assessment mechanisms to ensure greater fiscal transparency and stewardship of public funds.
Keywords :
Internal Control Systems, Financial Accountability, Financial Budget Implementation, Financial Budget Implementations.