PROJECT PLANNING, COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS AND PERFORMANCE OF ROAD PROJECTS IN ARID AND SEMI ARID COUNTIES IN KENYA

Abstract

The road construction industry is inherently complex due to the involvement of numerous parties, including the government, contractors, consultants, stakeholders, and regulators. In Kenya, road projects have been facing challenges, resulting in delays, increased costs, and subpar quality. This study objectives are to assess the effect of project planning on performance of road projects in arid and semi-arid counties in Kenya, to determining the mediation effect of community participation on the relationship between project planning and performance of road projects in arid and semi-arid counties in Kenya, To evaluate how government regulations influence the relationship between project planning and the performance of road projects in arid and semi-arid counties in Kenya, as well as to determine the moderated mediation effect of government regulations and community participation on this relationship. The study was anchored on theory of constraints and supported by Stakeholder Theory, Resource Based View Theory and Regulation Theory. The study adopted positivism philosophy. The study applied a cross-sectional survey design and used census sample method. The study population were the 88 completed road projects in 22 Arid and Semi-arid counties in Kenya. The study adopted convenience sampling technique where primary data was collected using a questionnaire from 198 respondents. The study respondents were the contracted company's project managers, county public works officers and the local community leaders who are most advantageously placed and in the best position to provide the information required. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics which included correlation and multiple regressions. The study results revealed that strong positive correlation (R=0.648) between project planning and performance of road projects; strong positive and statistically significant correlation (R=0.718) between project planning, community participation and performance of road projects; and that 51% (R2=0.510) of variation in and performance of road projects is explained by the project planning, community participation. Further, community participation partially mediates the relationship between project planning and performance of road projects. Moreover, a significant effect of government regulations on the relationship between the project planning and performance of road projects was observed besides a strong, positive and statistically significant correlation (R=0.738) between government regulations, project planning and performance of road projects. In addition, 53.6% (R2=0.536) of variation in performance is explained by the interaction between project planning and government regulations. There was a significant moderated mediated effect of government regulations and community participation on the relationship between project planning and performance of road projects in arid and semi-arid counties in Kenya. The study recommends the development of comprehensive and workable project designs that take into account the one-of-a-kind conditions that are typical of arid and semi-arid regions. There is a need for greater investment in training and development efforts that target project planners and engineers, with the purpose of expanding their knowledge and understanding of the design and execution of road projects within arid and semi-arid regions. Establishment of project planning frameworks that are especially adapted to the contextual needs of arid and semi-arid settings is an absolute necessity if one wants to successfully handle the one-of-a-kind difficulties that are offered by arid and semi-arid environments.