Construction Delay and Completion of Dam Projects in Kitui County Kenya

Abstract

The research project purposed to find out construction delay and completion of dam projects in Kitui County Kenya. The research was carried out in Kitui County Kenya, located approximately 160 kilometres from Nairobi on the eastern part of Kenya. This study’s four specific objectives were to determine how design changes affect completion1of dam construction1projects in Kitui County Kenya, to examine how delay in payment affects completion1of dam construction1projects in Kitui County Kenya, to assess how planning affects completion1of dam construction1projects in Kitui County Kenya and to examine how site management affects completion of dam construction1projects in Kitui1County1Kenya. This research thus focused on both contingency theory and general systems theory. A descriptive9survey research9design was utilized. Population comprised of project managers, contractors, consultants, and the project employees on site from the material department, site supervisor, finance department and Design department in charge of the dam projects. This study targeted 24 dams in Kitui County. The study’s unit of analysis was 168 respondents comprising of project managers, contractors, consultants, and the project employees on site from the material department, site supervisor, finance department and design department in charge of the dam projects. The study sample size was 118. The respondents for the research were chosen1using1stratified random1sampling. The questionnaire was the study's chosen instrument or technique for data gathering. Pilot research9was undertaken to pre-test and verify the questionnaire. The study was descriptive in nature using mean, frequency, and percentages to assess quantitative data obtained. The narrative approach was used to analyse open-ended questions. A correlation was employed in establishing the strength of the link between the dependent1variable and independent1variable. Multiple regressions were done to establish how construction delay affects completion of dam projects in Kitui County Kenya. The study found that design changes significantly affect completion of dam projects in Kitui County, Kenya (B=0.567; p=0.000). The study established that delay of payment significantly affects completion of dam projects in Kitui County, Kenya (B=0.962; p=0.000). The study also revealed that project planning and scheduling significantly affect completion of dam projects in Kitui County, Kenya (B=0.639; p=0.000). The study found that site management and supervision significantly affect completion of dam projects in Kitui County, Kenya (B=0.709; p=0.000). The study concluded that delay of payment had greatest effect on completion of dam projects in Kitui County, Kenya followed by site management and supervision then project planning9and scheduling while design changes had the least effect on completion of dam projects in Kitui County, Kenya. Recommendation9is made that project managers and contractors of dam projects in Kitui county should conduct robust initial planning. The study9also recommends that recommends that county government of Kitui in collaboration with projects managers should foster collaboration and communication among project stakeholders, including government agencies, contractors, consultants, and local communities. The recommendation made was that county government should invest in training and skill development for site managers, supervisors, and construction workers involved in dam projects.