Factors influencing implementation of construction projects in public secondary schools in Kabondo division, Homabay county, Kenya

Abstract

A project is said to be successfully implemented if the implementation is on time, according to the budget and meets the user requirements. Secondary schools mostly engage in the construction of office blocks, laboratories, dormitories, class rooms, or dining halls. It is therefore important that whenever such projects are initiated, they are successfully implemented in order to achieve the objectives of their construction and to get value for money invested in them. Most construction projects in public secondary schools in Kenya are not successfully implemented and it is important to ascertain the factors behind this. This study was therefore conducted with the aim to identify the factors that influence implementation of construction projects in public secondary schools in Kabondo Division of Homabay County, Kenya and make recommendations on how they can be managed. The specific objectives of the study were to: determine the extent to which skilled labour influences implementation of construction projects in public secondary schools in Kabondo Division of Homa-Bay County; assess how management capacity influences implementation of construction projects in public secondary schools in Kabondo Division of Homa-Bay County; examine how procurement of materials and equipment influence implementation of construction projects in public secondary schools in Kabondo Division of Homa-Bay County and determine how stakeholders’ involvement in the construction projects influence implementation of construction projects. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Data was collected from a target population of 25 public secondary schools. The respondents were all the 25 principals, 25 accounts clerks and 25 B.O.M. chairpersons of the schools. Thisgave a total of 75 respondents. Questionnaires were administered to bursars, B.O.M chairpersons and school principals. Census method was used to get the sample size of 75 respondents. The researcher conducted a pilot study to ensure the validity of the instruments and that the instructions were clear and all possible responses to a question were captured. The reliability of the instruments was done by test-retest study in 5 schools in Kasipul Division.The data was analyzed with the aid of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS), and Microsoft Excel computer program,and presented in form of frequency tables and percentages. The study found that weather conditions and price fluctuations were the leading factors that influence the implementation of construction projects in public secondary schools in Kabondo Division of Homabay County, Kenya. These were followed by employment of skilled labour, stakeholders’ involvement, effective procurement of materials and equipment and lastly, management capacity.The findings of this study are expected to aid school administrators to properly manage the factors identified and can be used to guide policy on overall management of construction projects in secondary schools in Kenya. The study recommended that; skilled labour should be carefully sourced, project administrators should seek better ways of involving all stakeholders, procurement procedures should be strengthened and during the planning and budgeting stage, reasonable consideration should be made to cover the effects of price changes.