Project Risk Management and Performance of Electricity Infrastructure Projects in Mombasa County, Kenya

Abstract

The government of Kenya has heavily invested in electricity infrastructure development through various projects in various regions of the nation including Mombasa County. The project life cycle of projects is characterized by numerous risks that affect the delivery of quality projects within estimated budget and estimated schedule. To address projects risks, project managers make use of project risk management. However, electricity infrastructure projects in Mombasa County have been experiencing poor performance in terms of cost overrun, poor distribution operating efficiency, poor duality of power delivery and high repair and maintenance0cost as0compared to0their economic0benefits. Therefore, the objective0of this0study was0to determine the influence0of risk0management on performance of electricity infrastructure projects in Mombasa County. The study employed a descriptive research design. The target0population was 82 project managers and supervisors, contractors, engineers and Kenya Power Infrastructure Development Department Staff involved in the 26 electricity infrastructure projects in Mombasa County. Since the target population is small, the research adopted a census approach therefore included the entire0population. The research employed primary data which was obtained using semi-structured questionnaires. The questionnaires produced qualitative and quantitative data. Thematic0analysis was employed in analyzing qualitative data and outcomes were presented in form of narrative. Descriptive0and0inferential0statistics were used to analyze quantitative data. Descriptive statistics involved percentages, frequency distribution, standard0deviation and mean. Inferential statistics like linear regression analysis and correlation0analysis then followed. The study found that risk0identification has positive and significant effect on performance of electricity infrastructure projects in Mombasa County. The study also established that risk analysis has positive and significant effect on performance of electricity infrastructure projects in Mombasa County. In addition, the study found that risk response plan has positive and significant effect on performance of electricity infrastructure projects in Mombasa County. The study also found that risk monitoring has positive0and significant0effect on0performance of electricity infrastructure projects in Mombasa County. The study concludes that risk management has a significant effect0on performance0of electricity infrastructure projects in Mombasa County. Therefore, the study recommends that project managers should ensure that the project team includes individuals with the necessary technical expertise to identify and understand the intricacies of technical challenges and complexities. In addition, project managers should make efforts to identify the subject matter experts and stakeholders who should contribute to the risk analysis.