Effect of disclosure of public sector financial information on quality of financial reporting in public secondary schools in Kakamega County, Kenya

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of public sector financial information disclosure on the quality of financial reporting in public secondary schools in Kakamega County. This study was premised on a theoretical foundation based on legitimacy theory. The study employed a descriptive research design. The study targeted 419 public secondary schools, from which a sample of 205 public secondary schools was obtained using a stratified random sampling technique. The study used Primary data, which was collected using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using version 26 of the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive and inferential methods of data analysis were used. The analyzed data was presented using tables, models, frequencies and percentages. The study found that public sector financial information disclosure was significant at (? = 0.790, t = 15.488 at p<0.01) on quality financial reporting. From the R Square, it accounted for 54.7% of the variance in quality financial reporting (p = 0.000). The study concluded that disclosure of public sector financial information significantly affected the quality of financial reporting in public secondary schools in Kakamega County. The study recommended that there is a need for financial information and reports to be made available to the users in a timely fashion and in the correct format and language that can make it easy for them to analyze and interpret. This would ensure that there is adequate disclosure of going on concern information which is more comprehensive, integrated and more helpful in decision-making process.