DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2017.v05i11.004

Pages: 1568-1575

Legislative and regulatory framework provides the basis for effective records and archives management. The enactment of comprehensive laws, policies rules and regulations are a critical prerequisite for successful records management regime. This paper presents the findings of the study which examined the legal and regulatory frameworks used in the management of public records in Kenya and their effectiveness. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of the existing records and archives related laws in addressing records related risks in government ministries in Kenya. The current study was carried out with the assumption that the public records and archives legislation was the overall law that guides the management and preservation of public records in Kenya. Government ministries were identified as research sites The Business-Driven Recordkeeping model and the Integrated Risk Management models were adopted for the study. The study used the survey research design, which was primarily qualitative with some aspects of quantitative approaches to gather data. Data was collected through interviews and documentary review. The population consisted of 290, out of which a sample of 130 respondents comprising 90 Records Management Officers, 8 Archivists and 32 informants was drawn. The study shows that the legal and regulatory frameworks for records management did not effectively address records related risks and recommends the Public Archives and Documentation Service Act to be revised to provide for the management of records throughout their life cycle and incorporate electronic records management.