A Green Integrated Financial Management Information System Framework for Enhanced Usability and Energy Efficiency

IFMIS play a pivotal role in strengthening transparency, operational efficiency, and accountability within public sector reforms. In Kenya, IFMIS was launched in 2003 and decentralized to county governments in 2013. Despite its critical role in enhancing transparency and accountability, IFMIS lacks an integrated framework that combines sustainability with user-centered design, leaving a gap in achieving efficient and ecofriendly public financial management. The study addressed the persistent challenges of high energy consumption and poor usability in Kenya’s IFMIS, which increase operational costs, environmental impacts, and user dissatisfaction. Three core objectives guided the research: To analyze the IFMIS architectural sources of energy inefficiency within the existing IFMIS infrastructure, to evaluate the current usability challenges of existing IFMIS as perceived by end users and to develop a Green Integrated Financial Management System Efficiency Framework. Descriptive Survey design was adopted. Nakuru was selected through purposive sampling among Kenya’s 47 counties. Cochran’s formula to generate a sample size of 227, these included Heads of Departments, ICT Officers, Finance/Accountants and other staff.

The respondents were drawn from County Finance/Accounts, County Supply Chain, County Procurement and County Treasury. Test-retest reliability (Pearson r =0.999) and internal consistency reliability (Cronbach Alpha 0.891) tests were done. Content validity (CVR 0.71) and Face Validity (mean =87.92%) were conducted. Descriptive statistics – mean, median, mode, standard deviation, variance, frequency Tables and skewness – and inferential statistics –regression analysis, factor analysis, principal component analysis, ANOVA, Chi-square, u-test and spearman correlation -were used to analyze data. Results revealed an average energy consumption of 85 watts per user session, with over 60% of hardware failing to meet efficiency standards. Usability

evaluations pointed to interface congestion, poor mobile accessibility, lagging responsiveness, and high reliance on external technical support. These findings informed the development of the Green IFMIS Efficiency Framework (GIFMISEF), composed of five interlinked components: Enhanced Energy Efficiency, Enhanced Usability, Green IFMIS Design, Organizational Policy Formulation, and Adoption of Green IT Best Practices. To ensure feasibility and relevance, the framework underwent expert validation through a focus group discussion involving IT professionals, green

computing specialists, educational technologists, and public finance practitioners. Structured feedback confirmed the framework’s clarity, practicality, and potential for adoption. In conclusion, the study calls for a strategic solution of IFMIS in Kenya; advocating modernized infrastructure, policy reforms, real-time energy tracking, and design enhancements aligned with global sustainability standards to promote efficient, user-friendly, and environmentally responsible financial governance