An Investigation Into the Problems and Constraints experienced by Building Maintenance Managers. A Case Study Of Kenya Airways Head Office And Base, Nairobi

Abstract

The research investigated into problems and constraints experienced by building maintenance managers at Kenya Airways Head Office and Base, Nairobi. This was induced by continuous low performance level both in quality and quantity of service delivery in all spectrum of building maintenance services. Kenya Airways Office and Base has a population working staff of three thousand and five hundred and the mode of buildings and infrastructural facilities it possesses varies widely. The properties under focus of maintenance team are Buildings - Office blocks, Warehouses for storing cargo goods for the freights, Hangers - for servicing of small scale to giants planes; infrastructural facilities namely Water storage tanks both low and high level and its entire reticulation, Electrical services facilities backed by Generators, Telephone services, Airconditioners fire suppression facilities; movables office facilities and equipments such as chairs, tables, bulk fillers; Fittings such carpets, blinds, curtains; recurrent day today services such as cleaning and ground support. Just to mention a view. The contrasting nature of above mentioned facilities and services reinforced with the degree of urgency at which the performance is expected by the users poses major challenges to the entire building maintenance team whose level of performance is supposed to be world class. Note that the Airline Business world is global and sluggish inferior services cannot be compromised as this portrays inverted images to the international community. It is really a sensitive world requiring dynamic performers to sustain its goals and objectives globally. Data analysis collected from the field indicates that Kenya Airway allocates a budget at least Kshs. 850 Million annually for capital expenditure and about Kshs.1.44 Million P.a for its recurrent and expenditure. Owing to problems and constraints experienced on the implementation process, its appalling to realize that, hardly 60% of this provision is utilized for proposed targets and this poses risks of indirect wastes. phe research found out that the building maintenance staff is understaffed, has inadequate emic, technical and computer skills to meet the users expectations timely and therefore, there for the entire staff to be upgraded in order to cope with the current demand. The research also noted that there are some key facilties such as generators, Electrical switch gear Air-conditioners, Hand driers, Bore water pumps, lifts & photocopiers which require outsourcing owing to its related advantages over similar facilities. The study concluded that the approval and procurement procedures particularly on capital •projects needs to be restructured to meet the growing demand of the technical orientation principles. The bureaucratic principles need to be integrated with law of contracts, which is the driving motor of the entire implementation process of the capital & recurrent projects. Generally there is need to adhere to law of contract to achieve a balance between the client and the service providers.