| dc.description.abstract | The majority of road construction projects in Kenya do not get completed within
the initially set targets of time. Project delays frustrate the process of development, have
an immeasurable cost to the society, and also lead to loss of reputation of the parties
involved in the concerned projects. Project delays are a common problem in the
international construction industry of today. Investigating the reasons for delay has
become an important contribution to improved construction industry performance.
Delays are usually accompanied by cost and time overruns. Over seventy percent of
projects initiated in Kenya are likely to escalate in time with a magnitude of over fifty
percent. For instance the construction of Langata and Jogoo Roads in Nairobi took an
inordinately long time to complete.
Roads contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction. Road infrastructure
impacts on overall economic growth, agricultural growth, urban growth, urban poverty
reduction, and rural poverty reduction. Without infrastructure, efficient markets,
adequate health care, a diversified rural economy, and sustained economic growth will
remain elusive.
The real causes of project delays have been observed to be poor financial
management by clients, inadequate designs, and poor management of the construction
process by the parties involved in project implementation. There is also a tendency for
the main stakehola~rs.to be overly optimistic when it comes to estimating costs and
;"" -,
time scales for large public projects. There is often a good deal of deceit at the planning
stages of large prestigious projects by politicians and professionals alike, with a view to
getting projects started.
Delays are caused by external as well as internal factors to the project. Examples
of external factors include politician's interference, inflation and interest rates.
Examples of internal factors include contractor's cash flow, design change by engineer,
and inadequate planning/scheduling. Out of the 141 variables studied 30 factors were
found to be significant. Out of the 30 significant factors three were found to be most
significant with respect to contribution to delays and these three factors are payment by
c-lient,slow decision making and bureaucracy in client organisation, and claims in that
order of merit.
It is recommended that clients should improve their financial management
systems so that they could be able to pay contractors in a timely manner. Bureaucracy
and red tape should be reduced in client organisations in order to speed up the slow
decision making process. Efficient management of the construction process will also
lead to a reduction in incidences of claims. | en |
