Socio-Economic Determinants In Sustainability Of Urban Infrastructure Projects, A Case Of Kura Roads Projects In Laikipia County, Kenya

Abstract

The road transport system in Kenya is used to move people and goods and it is vital in interconnection of other modes of transport as well as acting a vital linkage in access to basic social services. Roads networks worldwide are pillars for economic, social and political progress (KRB, 2017). The purpose of this study was to investigate the socio-economic determinants in sustainability of Roads Projects in urban areas, a case of KURA projects in Laikipia County. The study had the following objectives; to determine how availability of resources, procurement practices, project management implementation team competency and stakeholders’ participation influences the sustainability of Roads Projects in urban areas. The study focused on projects implemented in Laikipia County. The study assumed that each and every respondent was ready and available to answer the questions and was cooperative and questionnaires issued was returned on time and well completed in order to get valid data. There was also an assumption that respondents were to answer truthfully. The study’s theoretical framework was based on Resource Based View Theory and Stakeholders Theory. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The target population was 103 drawn from Project engineers, Road supervisors, Procurement officers, Project accountants, Project implementation team, Contractors and Stakeholders. This study employed a sampling formula for determining sample size advanced by Saunders to select a sample size of 82 respondents. Stratified sampling method was then applied to proportionately draw respondents from 7 categories of parties to KURA funded road construction in Laikipia County. The study data was collected by use of questionnaires and data collected was analyzed by use of descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The specific descriptive statistics included frequencies, means, and was presented in the form of frequency distribution tables while the inferential statistics was in a multiple linear regression model and Pearson correlation output. The findings were presented descriptively with supporting statistical techniques such as frequency distribution tables, regression and correlation analysis. The study findings implied that 86.10% of the variation in the implementation of KURA roads projects (the dependent variable) was explained by variability in the independent variables i.e. procurement practices, project management implementation team competency, availability of resources and stakeholders’ participation and only 13.90% of the variation in the sustainability of KURA roads projects was explained by other variables not included in the model. There also existed a significant positive relationship between procurement practices, project management implementation team competency, availability of resources and stakeholders’ participation and sustainability of roads projects as evidenced by the Pearson Correlation Output. The study recommends that policy makers and implementers in the KURA, need to consider the factor of availing resources to ensure timely implementation of roads projects. The study recommends also that policy makers and implementers in the KURA and other government agencies implementing projects to ensure that the project management implementation teams are let to gain experience considered in their assignments to ensure more quality services. The study further recommends that stakeholders should be actively involved in the implementation of the projects.