Project Life Cycle Costing and Sustainability of Public Housing Upgrading Construction Project in Kibera Soweto Slum in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Abstract

Public housing construction projects in Nairobi City County have faced a lot of challenges hence not achieving sustainability. The Public construction projects have failed to incorporate economic, environmental, and social factors leading to the growing gap between demand and supply of houses which has, in turn, contributed to the continued failure of housing in the country. The Kibera Soweto housing project has faced challenges attributed to a lack of incorporation of the social and economic life of the slum dwellers into the projet. The research mainly focused on determining the relationship between project life cycle costing on the sustainability of public housing construction projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The specific objectives were to identify the relationship between the initial cost, maintenance cost, operation cost, and end-life cost of projects and the sustainability of public housing construction projects in Nairobi City County. The research used weiber’s least cost theory, the Four Capital Model theory, and the theory of constraint to support this study. The research focused on Kibera –Soweto East public housing construction projects implemented under the Kenya Slum Upgrading Project. The research incorporated both descriptive and explanatory research designs. The research targeted the Kibera Soweto Upgrading Housing Project. Hence the sampling frame comprised of State Department of Housing and Urban Development (Project Implementation Unit), United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), Settlement Executive Committee, Muungano wa Wanavijiji, Pamoja Trust, and Soweto High Rise Housing Cooperative. The sample size of the study was 73 respondents picked randomly. Pilot testing was conducted by distributing questionnaires to informants from the aforementioned institutions to determine the validity and reliability of the questionnaires. The research sought expert opinion to determine the validity of the research. Additionally, the research used a test-retest method to assess the reliability of the instruments which was found to be 0.872, which is reliable. Research permits were obtained from NACOSTI for authorization to conduct the study. Data was collected from the informants, and the response rate was 75%. Mean, standard deviations, deviations, and frequencies are descriptive statistics applied to analyze the primary data collected. Diagnostic tests were conducted, and data was found to be fit for analysis. A correlational analysis was conducted and found that the variables have a significant relationship. The research analyzed the data to derive descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings established that initial costs affected the sustainability of public housing construction projects. From the findings, it was evident that both maintenance costs and end life costs affected the sustainability of the Kibera public housing project. Finally, research established that operation cost was used to explain public housing construction projects in Nairobi County. The research concludes that there is a significant relationship between the initial cost and the sustainability of public housing construction projects. Additionally, the research identified maintenance cost and end life cost to have a significant positive relationship with the sustainability of public housing construction projects. The research recommended a thorough consideration of the operation cost, initial cost, end life cost and maintenance cost when dealing with the sustainability of public housing projects.