Influence of monitoring and evaluation tools on the performance of construction projects in Kenya: a case of construction projects in Kitui County

Abstract

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) is the systematic process of reviewing and regulating the process of a project to ensure that the previously set objectives are achieved. M&E is increasingly being recognized as an indispensable tool of project management. This study set out to establish the influence of M&E tools on the performance of construction projects in Kenya: a case of construction projects in Kitui County. The M&E tools that were under study included budgetary allocation, logical framework, baseline surveys and stakeholder analysis. It purposed to achieve four key objectives namely: to establish how budgetary allocation influences performance of construction projects; to determine how logical framework influences performance of construction projects; to assess how baseline surveys influence performance of construction projects; and to find out how stakeholder analysis influences performance of construction projects. The Yamane formula was used to generate the sample size of 127 respondents of which 113 successfully filled and returned the questionnaires. The study triangulated stratified, purposive and convenience sampling methods to select respondents. The key instrument of primary data collection was the questionnaire. The study utilized Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft Suite for data analysis. Correlation and regression analyses were undertaken to show the relationships between key study variables. According to the study, 62% of the respondents observed that budgetary allocation influences performance of construction to a large or moderate extent while 82.3% noted that logical framework influences performance of construction projects to a large or moderate extent. 79.7% of the respondents indicated that baseline survey influences performance of construction projects to a large or moderate extent and 92% of them observed that stakeholder analysis influences performance of construction projects to a large or moderate extent. The study therefore concludes that budgetary allocation, logical framework, baseline survey and stakeholder analysis, all have a positive influence on the performance of construction projects with stakeholder analysis have the largest influence. The study recommends that national government, county governments and other donor agencies supporting construction projects must ensure that sufficient provisions for M&E are put in place when budgeting for the projects. It also recommends that all project funders or donors must share available budgets set aside for M&E with the projects managers and supervisors so as to enable the latter prepare for effective project management well in advance. It further recommends that the national and county governments need to apply logical framework in the monitoring and evaluation of construction projects.