Project Management Practices and Successful Implementation of Road Projects in Kenya: Case Study of Kenol-Sagana Road Project.

Abstract

Successful implementation and construction of road projects in Kenya is an important process in the country’s growth, but it has perennially and continually become an extremely difficult task to achieve. This means that it is rare for a road in Kenya to be completed within the set time, according to the scheduled scope, and within its budgeted cost. The Kenol-Sagana Road project, however, stands out as a notable exception, having been successfully implemented amid the widespread issues affecting similar projects in the country. The purpose of this study was to establish the effect of project management practices on successful implementation of road projects in Kenya, with a specific reference to Kenol-Sagana Road. The objectives of the study were to assess the project management practices used in the implementation of the KenolSagana Road Project, evaluate the degree of success rate achieved in the implementation of the Kenol-Sagana Road Project, and to establish the effect of project management practices in the implementation of the Kenol-Sagana Road Project. The study was informed by three theories: theory of construction management, game theory and the principle-agent theory. The study employed a descriptive survey research design to get information from stakeholders in the Kenol-Sagana Road project. Data collection was done using semi-structured questionnaires. The population of the study was drawn from key stakeholders involved in the Kenol-Sagana Road Project. That is, KeNHA employees, county staff members across the five counties, and employees from Jiangxi Transport Engineering Group. The study used a sample size of 90 from a population of 650. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The findings of this study are expected to provide valuable insights into the project management techniques and successful implementation of road projects in Kenya. This study aims to contribute to the broader knowledge on infrastructure development, giving practical recommendations to enhance project performance. The study established that effective project management practices had been implemented in the Kenol-Sagana Road Project. The project demonstrated a high degree of success in its implementation. Correlation analysis revealed significant positive relationships between project management practices and successful implementation: Project Planning and Scheduling, Stakeholder Involvement and Resource Management. Regression analysis showed that project management practices significantly predicted successful project implementation. The regression model indicated that Stakeholder Involvement had the strongest effect on project success, followed by Resource Management and Project Planning and Scheduling. The study concluded that the Kenol-Sagana Road Project had effectively adopted project management practices, which positively influenced its successful implementation. Recommendations include prioritizing stakeholder involvement, optimizing resource management, and developing more adaptive planning approaches for future road construction projects in Kenya.