Critical Factors on Performance of Building Construction Projects (A Case of Kitengela-Kajiado County Kenya)

Construction industry is one of the most important sectors that stimulate economic growth in any country. An increasing trade activity in Kenya has created a great demand for more and better infrastructure such as road networks, communication, buildings and utilities such as power, water and sewer systems. From an economic point of view, construction industry has become one of the most vibrant economic sectors in Kenya today and has attracted a large number of investors. Delays in completion of building construction projects are a problem that has been observed globally. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of critical factors on successful delivery of building construction project in Kitengela, Kajiado County in Kenya. To achieve the objectives of the study, a descriptive survey design was used. The study applied a stratified random sampling technique to select 20 projects. The target population consisted of 20 clients, 20 consultants and 20 contractors drawn from the sampled construction projects. The study used primary data, which were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test and the relative index of importance. The results of the study showed that there was a significant relationship between experience of the project manager and the success of the project, which implied that project success was dependent on experience of the manager. The study also found that a statistically significant relationship between government regulations and successful completion of building projects existed. The study therefore recommends that project designs should be developed by competent consultants and be discussed by all stakeholders before final draft is completed and implemented, this will reduce the number of change orders during construction phase that normally results to high cost overruns.