The effect of organizational leadership on academic performance in secondary schools in Kenya: a case of baringo central sub county

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of organizational leadership on performance in academics in secondary schools of Baringo Central Sub County of Baringo County, Kenya. The hypotheses were: the effect of leadership styles on performance in secondary schools is statistically significant at least at 5% level; the effect of leadership skills on performance in schools is statistically significant at least at 5% level; the effect of leadership ethics on performance is statistically significant at least at 5% level. The study made use of a survey study research design. The study sampled 26 of the 28 schools, 26 of the 28 school leaders and 91 of teachers to form a total sample size of 117 respondents. Questionnaires were used as the main data collection tools. Stratified random sampling was used select twenty six schools from the targeted 28 schools to ensure schools to participate in the study, convenience sampling was used so as to have the school heads as respondents for this study based on who was readily available and finally simple random sampling was done to select teachers from the identified schools. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Multiple linear regressions were used to establish the predictive power of the study model. The study findings indicated that there was no significant relationship between leadership styles and the academic performance (Accept, (p = 0.507), there was no significant relationship between leadership skills and the academic performance (Accept, p = 0.448) and that there was a significant relationship between ethical leadership practices and the school’s performance. (Reject, p = 0.006). The findings of this study provided policy recommendations that were useful in managing and improving academic performance in secondary schools in the study area.