IMPLICATIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY: THE CASE OF PENTECOSTAL BIBLE COLLEGE, HAMISI CONSTITUENCY, KENYA

Abstract

Leadership is a key element that affects the performance of organizations, systems, groups and individuals. The presence of an institution of higher learning in a place infers that the socio-economic lives of the surrounding population is likely to be affected. People perceive them as major transformational agents within that community. Pentecostal Bible College (PBC) is an institution of learning for evangelical theologians. It is located in Vihiga County, Hamisi constituency in Nyang’ori. The leadership of this institution is expected to demonstrate transformational leadership to those inside and outside the institution. This paper discusses the leadership of PBC and assesses its impact on the community. The study was guided by the transformational leadership theory as it described the leadership style of the institution and discusses the socio-economic implications on the Hamisi Constituency residents. This study was conducted in two wards, Tambua and Jepkoyai, representing 40 percent of the total population of wards in Hamisi constituency. The study sample was a purposive sample of the leaders in two categories: The leadership of the college and the community leaders (chiefs, pastors and two ward MCAs). They responded to a questionnaire that had open and closed-ended questions. Data was analyzed quantitatively using SPSS software to come up with frequencies and percentages which were interpreted in line with the objectives of the study. The study established that proximity to the institution determines the level of motivation and inspirational benefits that the community gets. The findings of the study could be beneficial to the leadership of the college, the community leaders and the entire population of Hamisi constituency.