Stakeholder Management Strategies and the Performance of Rural Roads Development Projects in Nyeri County, Kenya

Abstract

Project stakeholders remain integral in the success of any project. Managing and effectively engaging them in the project implementation process is therefore fundamental to a successful project. On the other hand, road construction projects are the most critical economic enablers and play an integral role in enhancing the country’s development. The success of these projects therefore means a more prosperous economy and society. Their performance has however been derailed by ineffective engagement and management of stakeholders, as portrayed by previous evidence. This study, therefore sought to examine the role played by stakeholder management the performance of rural roads development projects in Nyeri County, Kenya. The study specifically assessed the effect of stakeholder identification, stakeholder communication, stakeholder engagement and stakeholder monitoring and evaluation on the performance of rural roads construction projects in Nyeri County, Kenya. The study was anchored on the stakeholder theory, the systems theory and the theory of change. Using a cross-sectional research design, the study collected data from 96 respondents drawn from a target population of 126 road construction projects under the Kenya Rural Roads Development Authority (KERRA). A questionnaire was utilized to collect the primary data, which was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics through SPSS software. The findings revealed that stakeholder identification had a positive and significant effect on the performance of rural roads construction projects in Nyeri County, Kenya (β=0.234; P=0.028<0.05). Stakeholder communication was also found to have a positive and significant effect on performance of rural roads construction projects in Nyeri County, Kenya (β=0.186; P=0.034<0.05). The findings further revealed that stakeholder engagement had a significant and positive impact on the performance of rural roads construction projects in Nyeri County, Kenya (β=0.276; P=0.017<0.05). Finally, the findings portrayed that stakeholder monitoring and evaluation had a significant and positive influence on the performance of rural roads construction projects in Nyeri County, Kenya (β=0.250; P=0.010<0.05). The study concluded that the underperformance of rural roads construction projects in Nyeri County was significantly contributed by ineffective management of project stakeholders. It is therefore recommended that the management of the rural roads construction projects led by the managers at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority ought to upscale and uphold effective management of project stakeholders through identification of the key stakeholders, communication with the stakeholders, continuous engagement of the stakeholders as well as monitoring and evaluation of the stakeholders so as to enhance their contribution to the projects’ success.