PROJECT DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA.
Keywords:
Project Design, Project Planning, Successful Implementation, Resource Mobilization and Allocation, Road Construction ProjectsAbstract
The successful implementation of large-scale road construction projects is vital for economic growth, infrastructure development, and socio-economic advancement, particularly in developing countries. Empirical literature highlights the critical role of project design in achieving project success but reveals gaps such as the need for adaptive project planning, flexible scope management, effective stakeholder engagement strategies, and efficient resource mobilization and allocation to address the challenges of complex infrastructure projects. This study is guided by two objectives: to assess the relationship between project planning and successful implementation and evaluate the influence of resource mobilization and allocation on the successful implementation of road construction projects. The theoretical framework incorporates Complexity Theory, and Resource-Based View (RBV) Theory to provide a multi-faceted understanding of the study variables. The study employed descriptive research design, with primary data collected using self-administered questionnaires targeting employees from the Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) who were directly involved in the Thika Superhighway project. The target population of 519 KENHA employees includes top management, middle-level management, and lower management staff. The sample size of 226 was determined using the Yamane Formula, ensuring representativeness and statistical reliability. Stratified random sampling was used for selecting study sample. The pilot test involved a sample of 23 respondents, which represents 10% of the total sample size. The results from the pilot test were not used in the main study, and the respondents who participate in the pilot test were excluded from the final research. Data analysis involved both descriptive and inferential statistics, using SPSS software. The analysis included measures such as mean, standard deviation, and percentages, while inferential analysis was conducted through Pearson correlation and multiple regression to test the strength and nature of relationships between the variables. The findings revealed that all four project design factors significantly influenced project implementation. Resource mobilization was the most significant predictor (B = 0.297, p = 0.000), followed by project planning (B = 0.278, p = 0.000), Project planning (r = 0.671), resource mobilization (r = 0.643), had strong positive correlations with project success. The study concludes that effective resource mobilization, detailed planning, clear scope management, and stakeholder engagement are critical for successful road construction projects. It recommends enhancing contingency planning, improving scope flexibility, strengthening stakeholder dispute resolution, and prioritizing resource mobilization to improve future project outcomes. Further research is suggested to explore external factors such as political influence and technology adoption on project success.
Key Words: Project Design, Project Planning, Successful Implementation, Resource Mobilization and Allocation, Road Construction Projects
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