A study into the organication and execution of building maintenance works in the ministry Of works, housing and physical planning with special reference to Nairobi province.

Abstract

This study examines the organization and execution of building maintenance works in the Ministry of Works Hotising an~ Physical Planning with special reference to Na i.r-oLb Province with the objectives of determining whether the maintenance management practices employed by the ministry are efficient and effective. The study therefore examines the suitcbility of the organization structure and the mariagen.e nt, process in executing 'build'ingmaintenance wor-ks. It is divided into six chapters with the first chapter devoted to introductory formalities and the laying of the foundation to the study. In the main, it discusses the' significant role of the built environment in man's day-to-day activities and the vast sums of money spent on putting up this environment. The study then observes that despite this significant role and the vast sums of mon ey spent, t.hi s capi tal investment is generally neglected and apparently left -, to decay at wil~. From there on the study highlights the importance of building maintenance arid what building maj.ntel'l.2LCmeanagement is. The ministry has been chosen because it ii the largest single organization w1.th a long established .- . building mai nt.cnance unit. ..Jt -was further decided. to iestrict the study to Nairobi Province due to time factor 2nd because the practice~ of the M~nistry are similar throughout the republic. Furthermore Nairobi (vi) Province is the Minjstry's 'nerve centre' in building maintenance accounting for about 41% of its budget. The second chapter is devoted to building a th~oretical model for the ministry's Nairobi Province paying attention to its size, the production technology of building maintenance and the 'environment under whicb the ministry -operates. Chapter three and four contain the case study being the findin~s of ,I . interviews, que st i.onnair-es, searches of the j c0rre~pondence filesJ reports and the building organization and operations manual (BOOM). 'I'he study witnessed an organ~zation structure not suitabl~ to the organ,ization and overcentralization of authority. This overcentral~zation and poor structure has led to lengthy procedures and lack of effective control over service and cOTponent department~. The data collectod from the middle of October 1984 to middle of January 1985 is then tabulated in chapter five and analysed. Generally the data indicates poor performance in the organization and execution of building mainteriance works. The data reveals further that despite the deficiencies noted in chapter three and four, the management does not effectively employ maintenance tools in order to determine the direction of performance. The existing records are not evaluated, compari6ons between alternatives not done to determine which one offers more advantages over the other. Finances are seen to lacking but even the little funds voted for maintenance is at times surrendered unused while tte buildings continue to deteriorate. Chapter sjx is devoted to the summary of the findings and recommendations of the study. It is and accountability should be pushed down to the provinces and the depots to get rid of the maze of' procedures that water down efficiency and effectiveness.