Integrated Management Skills And Sustainability Of Road Projects In Kericho County, Kenya

Abstract

Project sustainability is a crucial aspect to donors and other stakeholders, however in Kenya road condition are in poor state especially in rural areas. Road projects assists in movement of goods and services, social and economic development of the nation. There is a need to improve road condition for a nation in Kenya to develop and ensure environmental impact, resource management, quality of project and road user’s satisfaction on the condition of Roads. Despite the effort in contracting road network in Kericho County, there are over 10000 Km of road that are not tarmacked and are in poor condition. The study aims to evaluate the influence of integrated management skills on road projects sustainability in Kericho County, Kenya. The specific objectives are to assess the effect of planning, resource allocation, risk management and communication on road projects sustainability in Kericho County, Kenya. The study was grounded on results based management theory, resource based theory and goal setting theory. Descriptive and explanatory research design was adopted. Target population was 123 road projects. A census of 98 staff from KURA, KENHA, KeRRA and County Government was utilized to provide information on the projects. The data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires. This was subjected to interrogation by supervisors and peer review to ensure validity. A pilot test was used to ensure reliability where internal consistency was checked. Analysis of data used both descriptive and inferential statistic. Descriptive techniques adapted the mean and standard deviations while multiple linear regression and Pearson Correlation analysis as inferential techniques. Normality, homoscedasticity, multi-collinearity and autocorrelation were tested before using multiple linear regression models. Finding of the study indicated that project planning had significant influence on project sustainability. This was due to budgetary estimates, inventory system and planning process reduced wastage, mismanagement and corruption. However, time scheduling required more improvement so as to reduce time wastage during construction. Resource allocation had positive significant influence on project sustainability. Human resource, physical resource and financial resource had significant influence on project sustainability. Risk management had significant influence on project sustainability. Design risks, construction risks and contract risk management assisted the organization to maintain safety of road users and workers. Finally, communication had positive significant influence on project sustainability. Communication channel and strategies assisted in improving environmental management. Communication between stakeholders and management greatly considered environmental impact of roads. The study concluded that project planning, resource allocation; risk management and project communication had positive significant relationship with project sustainability. The study recommended to constructors and road engineers that time scheduling in project planning should be enhanced to reduce time wastage. It also recommended resource allocation to improve quality and project sustainability.