Diffusion and Adoption of e-Government Procurement in Kenya

Purpose: This study investigates the factors influencing the successful diffusion and implementation of Kenya’s new end-to-end e-Government Procurement (e-GP) system, which is part of a mandatory digital transformation agenda for all public entities by July 1, 2025. Methodology: Anchored by the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory and Grounded Theory, the research employs a mixed-methods pragmatic approach to assess adoption across national government, county governments, and state agencies. Findings: Findings reveal a high level of "symbolic adoption," where 80% of entities have onboarded the system, but 48.6% of respondents have never utilized it for daily activities. While 65.7% of users acknowledge the system's potential to reduce corruption, significant barriers persist, including inadequate training (57.1% dissatisfied), frequent power blackouts (65.7% necessitating manual reversion), and a total lack of participation from the supplier side. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The study concludes that for e-GP to achieve its projected annual savings of Ksh 150 billion, the government must address the digital divide and prioritize human capacity building beyond mere technical compliance.