Effect of Mentorship Programs on Career Growth among Employees in Kakamega County Government: Implications for Public Administration
Abstract
This study examined the effect of mentorship programs on career growth among employees in Kakamega County Government, Kenya. Although mentorship is recognized as an important human resource development practice for enhancing employee competencies, professional development, and career progression, its implementation within county governments remains insufficiently documented. The study was guided by Social Exchange Theory and Resource-Based View Theory. A quantitative approach and descriptive research design were adopted. The target population comprised 3,500 permanent employees of Kakamega County Government, from which a sample of 381 employees was determined using Yamane’s (1967) formula and selected through stratified random sampling. Primary data were collected using a structured five-point Likert-scale questionnaire, with 312 completed questionnaires returned, representing an 81.9% response rate. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and simple linear regression. Descriptive findings indicated that mentorship programs were implemented at a moderate level, with relatively stronger perceptions of mentor–mentee relationship quality and mentorship duration and frequency, while aspects of formal program structure, particularly mentor matching and monitoring and evaluation, recorded comparatively lower ratings. The regression results showed that mentorship programs had a positive and statistically significant effect on career growth (β = 0.768, p < 0.001), explaining 37.5% of the variance in career growth (R² = 0.375). The study concludes that mentorship programs contribute significantly to employee career growth and recommends strengthening formal mentorship structures, mentor–mentee matching, monitoring and evaluation, while maintaining regular and supportive mentoring relationships. The findings provide useful implications for human resource management and public administration in county governments