PLANNING PRACTICES AND PERFORMANCE OF RESIDENTIAL HOUSING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN WESTLANDS SUB-COUNTY, NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA.
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Date
2024-07
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THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN AFRICA
Abstract
According to United Nations statistics, 3 billion people live in urban slums due to urbanization and population growth. World Economic Forum projects that by the year 2050, more than a third of the population across the globe will reside in urban areas. Design, planning, maintenance, and management of residential houses and the residential environment have a long-term effect on the prosperity, quality of life, health, and happiness of individuals and communities. The general objective of this study was to examine planning practices and performance of residential housing construction projects in Westland’s sub-county in Nairobi County, Kenya. Specific objectives were to establish the role of stakeholder participation, supervision, budget, and time management's impact on the performance of residential housing construction projects in Westlands Sub-County, Nairobi County, Kenya. Westlands Sub- County was ideal for the study as it is the most affluent neighborhood in Nairobi County with all kinds of residential units, from single rooms to houses with their own compounds. Project management competency, stakeholder theory, and constraint theory formed the study's theoretical basis. The study applied descriptive research designs. The study targeted 256 respondents made up of project managers, project architects, engineers, and developers of 64 private ongoing residential housing projects in Westland Sub-County. A samples size made up of 156 respondents were selected through stratified random sampling. Primary data was collected through the use of structured questionnaires. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS, Version 25.0) was used to analyze quantitative data. The study generated descriptive statistics; multiple regression was used to explain relationship between study variables. Tables and graphs were used to present results of data analysis. Study findings revealed positive relationship between independent and dependent variables. Time management revealed the strongest positive relationship (r=0.68) on performance of residential construction housing projects, followed by supervision (r=0.672), then stakeholder participation (r=0.66) and finally budget allocation (r=0.546). All the independent variables revealed p-value<0.01 thus statistically significant to explain relationship with the dependent variable. The study
recommends inclusion of stakeholders in every stage of a projects, their opinion count however should be filtered to avoid mix up. On supervision, the study recommended the need for continuous learning and training for project supervisor to cope with the ever-changing construction environment. On budget, the study recommended the need to do proper costing that put into account inflation of construction materials from time to time, timely review of budgets should be done for any emerging issues within the construction space. Finally, on time management the study recommended the need for setting achievable targets and assigning them time frame for completion. Time of completion of a project must take into consideration the prevailing economic and political environment. The study further recommended that future researchers should not only be limited to surveyors, engineers, and project managers but explore other players involved in project planning and implementation of residential housing projects.
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Keywords
Planning practices, Residential housing construction, Project performance, Westlands Sub-County, Nairobi County, Kenya