Factors influencing completion of constituency development funded projects in kenya: a survey of educational projects in kikuyu constituency, kiambu county in kenya.

Abstract

Since the introduction of the Constituency development fund in Kenya in 2004 many studies have been undertaken on some factors that have influenced successful completion of projects funded through the fund in the country. This study sought to examine factors that influence completion of Constituency development funded (CDF) projects in Kikuyu Constituency, Kiambu County. The study is guided by the objectives; to establish how Project leadership influence successful completion of Constituency development funded projects in Kikuyu Constituency, to assess how teamwork influence completion of CDF projects in Kikuyu Constituency. To assess how projects planning influence completion of the CDF projects in Kikuyu Constituency and to explore how projects monitoring influence completion of CDF projects in Kikuyu Constituency. The study used a descriptive survey research design to guide the study due to its ability to allow the researcher to collect data in a wide constituency within time limits with a sample size of 118 respondents obtained through stratified sampling from the project management committee (PMC) members of education projects funded through the Constituency development funds (CDFs) from 2012- 2015.Primary data collection was done using structured and unstructured questionnaires as well as interviews and secondary data through literature reviews of books and related documents. Eventually descriptive data analysis technique was utilized in the study. Data was analyzed using both descriptive statistics and narrative techniques. From the analysis, the study revealed that project leadership, planning, teamwork, project and commitment to project monitoring planning play an influential role towards successful completion of the constituency development funded in Kikuyu Constituency, Kiambu County.A project completion rate of 83% of the education CDF projects initiated between 2012 and 2015 studied can be atributed to these foregoing factors with only 17% behind schedule majority of which were initiated in 2014 and 2015 financial year. The study recommends that the Project Management Committee(PMC) who are the main implementers and monitors of project at local level should be capacitated to develop basic project risks and mitigation factors to be integrated within the project plans to enhance quality review of project milestones, improve on quality and value for money invested. Further the project monitoring should be improved to have basic Indicators for monitoring progress as opposed to the current practice where mostly observation and CDFC appointed staff are solely relied on to certify a project duly completed. Procurement has been noted as a great obstacle towards timely completion of projects streamlining the rules governing procurement needs to be reviewed to not only fasten the process but also enhance greater accountability in managing of Constituency project. During transition in political leadership care should be taken so that the new leadership cannot begin new projects while abandoning the old projects initiated by their predecessors this avoid the tendency of the existence of white elephant projects across a given constituency.