Hodgson took over the reins at The Hawthorns 11 days ago following the dismissal of Roberto Di Matteo, a sacking that surprised Kemp.
Hodgson's one game in charge so far saw the Baggies salvage a point in a Black Country derby with Wolves courtesy of a late equaliser.
With Stoke up next for Albion on Monday at the Britannia Stadium, Kemp is wary of the Hodgson factor as City look for a revival in the league after back-to-back away defeats.
"There have been some strange managerial changes this season, and this looks like one of those," said Kemp. "Certainly from the outside it seems a strange decision, but it's not my call. We're outside the club.
"Roy's in charge now and we know he'll have an impact. It makes it a harder game for us. That's because players always raise their game for a short period of time when a new manager comes in. We have to make sure we're ready for that on Monday and we don't let it affect us."
Source: PA
Source: PA