Determinants of implementation of environmental management strategies of public organizations in road construction sector in Kenya. (Case of Kenya national highways authority)

Abstract

Corporate strategy has been driven by different forces in the past, by production pressures, personnel pressures, and more lately by information pressures. This decade as well as the next shows clear signs of corporate strategy being driven by environmental pressures. Implementation of environmental management strategies is one of mechanisms that have been developed by organizations to enable them manage their activities. The aim of study was to investigate the determinants of implementation of environmental management strategies of public organizations in road construction sector in Kenya, Case of Kenya National Highways Authority. The objectives were to find out how project organizational structure and supervision, financial resources, environmental legislation and training / education of road construction staff affects implementation of Environmental Management strategies. The research design used in this project was descriptive survey. The target population for the study was sixty (60). The researcher took a complete census as the target is small. At the time of the study there were 20 ongoing road construction projects. One Project Engineer, One Resident Engineer and One Site Agent from each was chosen as a respondent. This gave a total of 60 respondents. Out of the 60, only 42 responded to the study constituting 70% of the total population. This is an adequate response rate and could therefore be used as a basis for conclusions. The study used primary data collected through the use of a structured questionnaire consisting of both closed and open-ended questions. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics and the findings presented in tables and graphs. The study established that project organizational structure and environmental legislation have not negatively affected the implementation of Environmental Management strategies of Kenya National Highways Authority road construction projects while inadequate financial resources, inadequate environmental supervision and training and education of road construction staff have negatively affected the implementation of Environmental Management strategies. There is need for KeNHA to include environmental management strategies in the bill of quantities (BOQ) during contract documentation, dedicate adequate financial resources in project budget to be used in implementation of environmental management strategies, make environmental supervision part of the road construction work program in all the KeNHA road projects and ensure that the personnel involved in road project management are adequately trained in environmental management.