Towards a green integrated financial management information system: Evaluating energy consumption and usability for sustainable public finance management in Kenya

Integrated Financial Management Information Systems (IFMIS) are central to public financial reforms globally, enhancing transparency, accountability, and service delivery. However, their implementation often overlooks sustainability dimensions, particularly energy consumption and usability. This study investigated the energy consumption patterns and usability challenges of Kenya’s IFMIS and developed a Green IFMIS Framework integrating energy-efficient computing and user-centred design to promote sustainable public financial management. Guided by pragmatism and an abductive approach, the study adopted a mixed methods design combining experimental and descriptive surveys among 227 ICT officers, accountants, and departmental heads in Nakuru County and the National Treasury. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and direct measurements. Results revealed average device consumption of 85 watts per session, with over 60% of devices lacking Energy Star certification and operating at suboptimal energy-saving configurations. Usability evaluation indicated low effectiveness, efficiency, learnability, and user satisfaction, with 58% rating the system as ineffective for seamless transaction processing. The developed Green IFMIS Framework incorporates energy-efficient hardware and software design, user-centred interface development, organisational Green IT policies, and capacity building. Expert validation confirmed high applicability and potential to improve system sustainability and user experience. The study recommends adoption of the framework to reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and promote environmental conservation, contributing to the growing literature on sustainable public sector IS in developing contexts.