CHALLENGES CONTRIBUTING TO FAILURE TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF BUILDING PROJECTS IN PUBLIC LEARNING INSTITUTIONS IN BARINGO COUNTY

Abstract

Up to 30 percent of construction works in Kenya’s public learning institutions end up, either not completed or not successfully completed. The general objective was to assess how some management processes contributed to failure to ensure successful construction of building projects in learning institutions in Baringo County. Objectives of the study included; to determine how public financing; public procurement; public works management; and, public project planning related factors contribute to failure to ensure successful construction of building projects in learning institutions in Baringo County. The study was anchored on the theory of discounted cash flow. Research design was the descriptive survey approach with both quantitative and qualitative data. The target population was 1895 with a sample of 950 individuals. The sample comprised heads of public learning institutions, construction project PMC chairpersons, sub-county public works officers, NG-CDF managers, county director of TVET and county director of primary and secondary education together with contractors who had recently participated in construction works in schools and colleges. A process of multistage random sampling was applied. Research instruments included a questionnaire, an interview schedule and an observation checklist. Research instruments were tested for validity through supervisor review and their reliability determined through piloting on a sample of 85 respondents in neighboring Nakuru County. Analysis of data was conducted using descriptive statistical analysis, Chi-square homogeneity test and linear multivariate regression analysis. Based on the Chi-square homogeneity test; respondents were homogeneous in their agreement that public financing, procurement, works management and project planning related factors actually contributed to failure to ensure successful construction of building projects in learning institutions and did so adversely. This was reaffirmed by the multivariate regression analysis. Further, under certain circumstances, the three desired outcomes of public building construction of quality, cost optimization and timeliness were incompatible and could not be attained concurrently. Quality and cost optimization was incompatible under financial constraints; as was timeliness and cost under restricted procurement. A project that took a long time to complete cost more and was of lower quality. It is recommended that the Kenyan laws and regulations dealing with procurement, project funding and works management should be reviewed to remove constraints. It is suggested that the same research questions be evaluated using a similar multipronged approach, but on a nationwide scale.