Influence Of Occupational Stress on Work Performance Among Kenya Police Officers in Njoro Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

Police Officers are exposed to a high level of stress due to heavy workload, long working hours, and exposure to traumatic experiences emanating from daily duties. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of occupational stress on work performance among Kenya police officers in Njoro Sub-County. The study was based on the role stress theory which explains how individual roles and expectations influence the outcome of individual responsibilities and how these functions cause occupational stress and affect work performance among police officers. The study adopts a descriptive survey design. The study targeted a population of 367 police officers. Stratified sampling was used to select a sample size of 104 respondents. The data collected through self-administered structured questionnaires were used as the research instrument to collect the data. Descriptive statistics were used in analyzing the data where the results were presented in form of tables, graphs, charts, frequency, and percentages to give meaning to the study. The results show that out of 104 questionnaires administered 81 were returned indicating a response rate of 77.88 percent. The study established that the majority of the respondents perform poorly due to stress they experience from work and that there is a strong influence on performance attributed to the poor communication network, lack of serviceable equipment, lack of support, lack of motivation, role conflict, heavy workload and long working hours. The study recommends that the National Police Service should focus on the causes of poor performance among the police officers and develop a strategy for addressing the gap to better service delivery. Develop counseling programs in the police syllabus and sensitize officers on the need of sharing problems that affect their work performance. Finally, the government should increase budgetary allocation and mobilize more resources and training to help them acquire skills to improve police public relationships and improve work performance. The study, 1therefore, recommended for a similar study be conducted in the national police service in other Sub-Counties in Kenya to compare the findings.