Critical success factors that determine implementation of public-private partnerships in infrastructural development projects in Mombasa county, Kenya.

Abstract

Kenya, like many countries around the world, is experiencing challenges delivering to its citizens, facilities, infrastructure and services; at a rate fast enough to satisfy the public demand. Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) are a possible solution to curbing the disparity between these levels of supply and demand. While PPPs may act as an effective aid for government to increase procurement and service delivery, these initiatives are not without their problems, in fact these partnerships are often plagued with much uncertainty. The major challenge with PPPs is how to form a good and successful PPP based on knowledge of critical success factors (CSFs) for a given geographical location. Unfortunately very little research on CSFs for PPPs implementation has been done in Kenya hence the purpose of this study is to investigate the CSFs that determine implementation of PPPs in infrastructural development projects in Mombasa County such as the construction of a second Nyali bridge,the Mombasa Port Development Project to reduce congestion at the port, expansion and overhaul of Moi international Airport, Development of Dongo Kundu Freeport and southern bypass. The objectives of the study are: to establish the extent to which commitment and responsibility of public and private sectors promote successful implementation of PPP infrastructural projects, to determine the extent to which a transparent and efficient procurement process promotes successful implementation of PPP infrastructural projects, to establish the extent to which appropriate risk allocation among partners influence implementation of PPP infrastructural projects, to assess the extent to which sound legal framework contribute to successful implementation of PPP infrastructural projects, and to examine how a good and strong consortium promotes successful implementation of PPP infrastructural projects in Mombasa County. In developing countries like UK, China and Australia where PPPs are successful, a lot of research on CSFs such as sound PPP legal framework, commitment and responsibility of public and private sectors, and appropriate risk allocation in implementation of PPPs has been done and put into practice. Descriptive survey design was preferred for this study because of its ability to deal with various cases and variables, its suitability with quantitative & qualitative methods and also less time consuming.