DRIVERS OF EFFECTIVE PROJECT PERFORMANCE IN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT FUNDED PROJECTS IN KIAMBU COUNTY, KENYA
Gathoni Juliah - Masters of Science in Project Management, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Dr. Karanja Ngugi - Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Constituency Development Fund is a devolved fund that was established by the Kenyan government to eradicate poverty at the grassroots level, share national resources and create employment at the constituencies. In Kiambu County Kshs6.9 billion has been allocated to 441NG-CDF projects between year 2003 and 2016 however, only 20% (89) of projects are well built, completed and performing, 30% (133) of projects have been poorly completed whereas 50% (219) of the NG-CDF projects haven’t been completed and therefore not performing. The purpose of carrying out this study was to identify the drivers of projects performance in NG-CDF projects in Kiambu County, Kenya. The objectives of this study were to: find out how Management skills of project managers affect the performance of NG-CDF projects, establish how regulatory environment affect the performance of NG-CDF projects, establish how the extent of Stakeholder participation affect the performance of NG-CDF projects and find out how resource mobilization affect the performance of NG-CDF projects. The study adopted descriptive research design; the population of the study was441 projects in the county started in year 2004. The study adopted proportion at stratified sampling technique where the projects were classified according to the constituencies they belong to. The sample size was 100 respondents. Data was collected using a questionnaire with closed ended questions administered to the project managers. Data collected was analyzed through inferential and descriptive statistics for quantitative data whereas qualitative data was analyzed through content analysis. This study found out that managerial skills, regulatory environment, stakeholder involvement, and resource mobilization are statistically significant to performance of NG-CDF funded projects. The study established that managerial skills influences performance of NG-CDF funded project. The staff did not have adequate managerial skills to ensure that there is efficiency and effectiveness in the performance of NG-CDF funded project. The project managers engaged in planning and implementation NG-CDF projects is low. Additionally, insufficient regulatory environment greatly affects the ability to spur performance of NG-CDF funded project. Some of the NG-CDF project regulations are not clear. Further, the study results revealed that stakeholder participation was important element to improved performance of NG-CDF funded project. The findings showed that to a moderate extent the respondents cited that constituencies incorporate information sharing with stakeholders was a key factor to stalled projects. Very few stakeholders are involved in making contributions in meetings to discuss project matters. The stakeholders are barely updated on various NG-CDF project progress. Lack of adequate funding to enhance access public infrastructure compounded by lack of incentives to help sustain NG-CDF projects affects performance of NG- CDF funded project. The study recommends that improvement on managerial skills will facilitate performance of NG-CDF funded project. There is need to have skilled project managers to ensure that there is efficiency on the performance of NG-CDF funded project. The project managers should be engaged on planning and implementation of NG-CDF projects. The NG-CDF kitty needs to be backed by a regulatory framework to spur performance of NG-CDF funded project. The financial regulations should be trained regularly especially when there revision of financial standards. The local community should be made aware of the dispute/conflict resolution procedures in regards to NG-CDF projects. Further, potential stakeholders should be adequately involved by government in the development of a framework to be used to guide on how performance of NG-CDF funded project can be enhanced. NG-CDF resource mobilization policy should be developed to mobilize funds from other developmental partners and institutions such as banks so that projects do not stall once the NG-CDF kitty money is withdrawn. The NG-CDF should collaborate with other organizations in the co-funding.