Factors influencing maintenance of roads by Kenya rural roads authority in Busia region

Abstract

Roads are clearly a critical enabling condition for improving living conditions in rural areas. Rural roads have only relatively recently received attention in development research. Production costs, employment creation, access to markets, and investment depend on the quality of infrastructure, especially transport. The purpose of the study was to examine the factors influencing roads maintenance by Kenya Rural Roads Authority in Busia Region. The objectives of the study were to investigate the influence of procurement practices, funding, political interference, material used for construction and human activities on the maintenance of roads by KeRRA. The design that used in the research was descriptive survey. The target populations of the study were 40 respondents from Kenya rural roads authority. The study used the census approach where all the members of the target population were included into the study sample. The study used both primary and secondary data collection methods. The primary data was collected using questionnaires. Secondary data was derived from the organization records. The data from the completed questionnaires was studied, re-coded and entered into the computer using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze quantitative data. The descriptive statistics included frequency counts, means and percentages. Qualitative data was analyzed qualitatively using content analysis based on analysis of meanings and implications emanating from respondents information and documented data. The results of the study showed that politicians influence the identification of projects to be funded and tendering process. It was also evident that the amount of budget given to KeRRA is inadequate. The study recommends that there is need for public education on roads in relation to economic development and more funding should be given to the roads authority to improve the infrastructure network