Factors Influencing Quality Of Building Construction Projects: A Case Of Tharaka Nithi County Government, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify and evaluate the main factors influencing quality of building construction projects in Tharaka Nithi county government. The objectives of the study sought; to determine how availability of labor influence quality of building construction projects; to examine how construction materials influence quality of building construction projects; to establish how construction equipments influence quality of building construction projects and to determine how availability of funds influence quality of building construction projects. The study adopted concurrent triangulation design in which researcher implemented the quantitative and qualitative methods during the same time fame work and with equal weight. The target population of the study was 61 respondents. Since the total population was small the researcher did not sample hence used census that is capturing the entire population of the contractors and consultant. The study used 61 respondents as a sample. Questionnaire and interview methods were used for data collection. Data was coded; tabulated and analyzed using correlation by Microsoft Excel based on the study objectives. Descriptive statistics were computed and study findings presented using percentages and tables and interpretations. The study discovered that all (100%) of the respondents agreed that the availability of labour is of great influence to the standard of building construction with all (100%) saying that the experience of a worker plays a key role in influencing the quality of building construction projects. All the respondents (100%) found that material and equipment cost influence the quality of building construction projects. The majority of respondents 69% of the respondents said that the amount of material did influence the quality of building construction projects. 90% of the respondents agreed that checking material and testing before usage influences the quality of building construction projects‟ The summary of findings based on objective three which was to assess the influence of construction materials on quality of building construction projects in Tharaka Nithi County. Construction equipment does influence quality of building construction projects in Tharaka Nithi County. The summary of findings based on objective four which was to assess the influence of Availability of Funds on quality of building construction projects in Tharaka Nithi County. Availability of funds does influence quality of building construction projects in Tharaka Nithi County. The study recommends that the contracting or consulting firms develop a quality management system to meet the requirements of the international quality standards.