Mitigating Challenges in the Implementation of the One Stop Shop Model for Approval of Construction Projects in Kenya (a Case of Nairobi City County)
Abstract
Implementation of One Stop Shop (OSS) model has the potential of enhancing the building approval
process. However, there are many challenges that impede its implementation. This study focusses on
mitigating the challenges in the implementation of the OSS in the building approval process in Kenya.
The study employed a qualitative research methodology based on the Systems theory, Coordination
theory and Actor Network theory. Data was collected via questionnaires administered to 91 respondents
(31 Architects, 48 structural engineers and 12 physical planners) as well as interview schedules with
experts from the Architectural Association of Kenya, Nairobi Metropolitan Services and the State
Department of Housing and Urban Development. The findings indicate that 94.3% of the respondents
had acquired the necessary approvals. Majority of the respondents indicated that it took 3-4 months to
acquire the approvals and over ksh.60, 000 as the average cost of approvals. The study established the
following challenges in the implementation of OSS: lack of top management support; lack of
collaborations between government agencies; resistance to change to electronic ways; poor security
systems; threats and breaches; poor ICT infrastructure; high cost of implementation and maintenance of
OSS; lack of qualified personnel to manage the OSS; digital divide; cultural issues and unprotected
individual privacy. The study proposed the following strategies to mitigate the challenges in the
implementation of OSS: enhancing collaborations between governments agencies involved in approval
process; Improving ICT infrastructure; harmonization of laws in the built environment to avoid
multiplicity of functions among various institutions; enhancing government support including funding,
advocacy; developing and embracing technology by OSS developers; improving training programs for
members of staff for the various institutions involved in approval as well as users on the importance of
OSS; adopting comprehensive privacy and security policies and benchmarking with countries which
have successfully implemented the OSS model. The study recommends that the Kenyan government
should be keen to allocate adequate resources and prioritize the implementation of the OSS model in
their development agenda. The government should also be keen to engage all the agencies, stakeholders
as well as the professionals in the built environment to ensure that they get support to ease the
implementation of the OSS. The study also recommends that harmonization of all construction laws and
policies and its institutionalization under one government agency which will ease the implementation of
OSS. This study provides insight for further study of technological advancements that can be
implemented alongside the OSS model to enhance its effectiveness, such as the BIM technology and a
study to investigate the performance and adequacy of the OSS at Mavoko, Machakos County, for they
exclusively identify themselves as a OSS.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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