An Investigation of the Relationship between Motivation and Job Satisfaction of High School Principals in Kirinyaga County, Kenya

Literature seems to suggest that there is a high state of job dissatisfaction among Principals and teachers in Kenyan Secondary Schools (Okumbe, 1998). They are dissatisfied with such job factors (aspects) as school administrative and management policies, interpersonal relations, workload, status and recognition in the society, available promotion opportunities and their relationship with the employer (Emulole, 1994). Considering the fact that teachers are the ones entrusted with the task of imparting knowledge and skills to the youth who are later absorbed in the economy, it is imperative that their work be facilitated by the school administration. In its sinister terms, low job dissatisfaction lurks behind absenteeism and employee turnover. It may also be part of grievances, low productivity, disciplinary problems, and organizational difficulties. This is supported by Siringi, (1999) who observes that high levels of indiscipline in secondary schools and drug abuse had led to poor academic standards among students due to poor school management. Specifically and in Kirinyaga County there is a high level of job dissatisfaction amongst the principals in the County. According to a report on causes, effects and remedies of indiscipline in high schools in Central Province where the county is situated and compiled by the executive secretary Provincial Education Board, the high rates of strikes and poor academic performance could be related to low job satisfaction among Principals and may result to other organizational difficulties. Hence, this paper examined the level of Principals’ satisfaction with administrative workload, salary, recognition, job security, interpersonal relations, working environment and promotion, and to investigated the relationship between them. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n5p25