Factors influencing implementation of road construction projects in Kenya: a case of Isiolo County, Kenya

Abstract

Proper planning, good site management, adequate contractor experience, adequate clients finance and payment for completed works, favourable external conditions, identification of sub contractors, proper adequate material, labour supply, maintaining of plants and equipments and proper communication channels between parties of the project are the factors which influence the successful implementation of road projects. This research project report concentrated on the factors which influence the implementation of road construction projects in Kenya with specific reference to Isiolo - Merille (A2) road, Lewa Isiolo (A2) road and Isiolo - Muriri (D485) road projects in Isiolo County. The objectives of the study were to determine how project resource mobilization approaches, to assess how project leadership and management, to assess how contract documentation and to establish how local politics influence the implementation of a road construction project in Isiolo County. A descriptive survey design was used in the study and a stratified random sampling was applied to select respondents from the staff members of the contractor, employer, consultants and land owners. Data collection was done by use of structured and un-structured questionnaires which were administered by researcher to the respondents. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The findings show that 79% of the respondents were not paid directly and promptly, majority of the consultants (71 %) and land owners (67%) had a project management committee, a total of 69% of the consultants had some items missing from contract documents and both consultants (68%) and the land owners (79%) indicated that there were politicians who had been in the past involved in road construction projects. This study found that contract documentation contributed most to the implementation of road construction projects followed by resource mobilization approaches, and local politics while the project leadership and management had the least effect. In order to avoid confrontations, the land owners should be paid before the commencement of the project directly and promptly. The Ministry of Roads should educate the community on the benefits of the projects in order to avoid misunderstandings with the project implementers. All stakeholders in the road construction projects should ensure good contract documentation is done in order to avoid the missing items in the contract documents. Regulations should be enforced in order to block politicians from influencing or involving in the implementation of road construction projects. The findings of the study are important to project managers, Consulting Civil Engineers, Engineers, Planners and Road Contractors in both private and public sector.