Factors influencing implementation of major road infrastructure projects in Kenya: a case of the southern bypass project, Kenya
Abstract
Road construction is considered to be one of the most important aspect in an economy, as it interacts with
nearly all fields of human endeavor. The productivity, welfare, and security of both rural and urban people are
greatly influenced by the level of infrastructural links to various centers of administration and commerce.
Research reveals that road construction projects do not succeed as initially planned due to the volatility and
complexity of projects and its delivery mechanism. Generally, experiences show that, medium to large size
projects appear frequent victims because project complexity fluctuates proportionately with the increase in
project size. The purpose of the study was to establish the factors influencing the implementation of major road
infrastructure projects in Kenya by examining factors such as: project resource mobilization, Organizational
Top Management, regulatory environment and monitoring and evaluationon on implementation of major road
infrastructure projects in Kenya with reference to the Southern Bypass project. The study adopted a descriptive
survey methodology taking a total population of 125 informants comprising of managers of construction
companies and consultants from which a sample of 94 respondents was selected using stratified proportionate
random sampling technique. Data was collected using semi structured questionnaire. Quantitative data was
analyzed using descriptive statistics and Qualitative data was analyzed thematically using content analysis
while Multiple regression analysis was conducted to establish the relationship between the variables. The study
may be useful to Kenya Roads Board (KRB), Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), Kenya Urban Roads
Authority (KURA), Engineers Registration Board , County Development Offices and road contractors in Kenya
in understanding their weak and strong points as far as road construction in Kenya is concerned. The study may
also be utilized by construction professionals operating in Kenya to gain better understanding on the factors
influencing implementation of projects in order to improve performance in project delivery. The study deduced
that the aspects of project resource mobilization that influence implementation of projects include financing
methods, adequacy of funding, technology availability and project contract mechanism with adequacy of
funding having the highest mean score of 4.060 while staffing scoring the lowest of 3.503 . Also it concluded
that Organizational Top Management influence implementation of major road infrastructure projects through
developing standard procedures, risk identification and allocation, communication systems, technical capability,
coordination effectiveness, upfront planning efforts, developing an appropriate structure and decision making
effectiveness with developing standard procedures having a mean score of 4.416 while decision making with
the lowest mean of 3.564. It was established that the aspects of monitoring and evaluation that influence
implementation of roads infrastructure projects include: reporting and review, responses in place, control
mechanism, monitoring schedule, performance reviews, data collection and Management and identification of
the purpose and scope of the M&E with reporting and review with highest mean score of 4.418 while
identification of the purpose and scope of M&E scoring the lowest of 3.636. Finally the study revealed that
aspects of regulatory factors including corporate taxes, administrative approvals environment, quality
assurance program, safety program, sanitary and building codes, rules on importation of materials, licenses and
permits and minimum wage tares influence implementation of major infrastructure road projects with corporate
taxes scoring the highest mean of 4.200 with wage tares scoring a low of 2.944. The study recommends that the
governmet should ensure that it allocates adequate resources both financial and non-financial to the
infrastructure projects it plans to implement. The project also recommends that the Organizational Top
Management should ensure effective implementation of infrastructure projects in the country.The study finally
recommends that the government should examine the policies governing the implementation of infrastructure
projects in the country.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Description
Thesis