ABSTRACT
Public private partnerships (PPP) are pursued to leverage knowledge, resources, and capabilities to achieve public goals. Despite its strategic role in enhancing optimal benefits of PPPs, synergy is a developing concept in most of the PPPs in developing economies, Kenya included which largely remains untested coupled with lack of models to be benchmarked with. The study investigated the influence of synergy on performance of public private partnerships in Kenya: a case study of the Afya Elimu Fund. The study’s three specific objectives included: to establish the influence of resource complementarity on performance of a PPP in Kenya; to determine the influence of communication on performance of a PPP in Kenya; and to evaluate the effect of leadership on performance of a PPP in Kenya. The study employed a descriptive research design. The target population was 200 staff from from the Afya Elimu Fund partners that include MOH, MOE, Intrahealth, FUNZOKenya, HELB and Kenya Healthcare Federation. From the target population of 200 staff, the study sample size was 126 respondents who were sampled using stratified sampling technique. Data collection was done using a semi-structured questionnaire. Cronbach's Alpha Coefficient was computed from the pilot study data to ascertain the reliability of the data collection instrument. On the other hand, validity of research instruments was achieved using PPP expert opinion to ensure content and construct validity. To analyse quantitative data, descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statics (regression analysis) were used. while content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. From the findings, the study established that synergy had a significant influence on the performance of public private partnerships in Kenya. In addition, resource complementarity as a synergy construct contributes the most to performance of a PPP followed by communication and leadership respectively. Finally, the most significant synergy construct influencing performance of a PPP is resource complementarity, communication and leadership respectively. The study recommends that the management of the respective partners in a PPP should invest more in complementing both financial and human resources. The management of a PPP should also review communications protocols that are in place to address communication challenges that exist amongst partners. Furthermore, the leaders in the PPP should be regularly trained on emerging leadership skills to enhance their efficiency as the leaders of the PPP. Lastly, it is recommended that other studies be done to establish which are the other synergy elements that influence performance of a PPP.