Influence of risk management strategy on implementation of road construction projects in Migori County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of risk management strategy on implementation of road construction projects in Migori County, Kenya. Implementation was measured as a function of project completion within the set time frame, meeting quality requirements and being within budget. This study was anchored on Risk Management theory.  Descriptive research design was used. The target population for the study was 417 with a sample of 232 which included 39 contractors, 193 constituency roads committee members (CRCs). Simple random sampling method was applied in selecting Constituency Roads Committee members and the road contractors. Data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics with the help of statistical package for social sciences, SPSS. The study utilized the t-statistic to test the null hypothesis.  Primary data was obtained through self-administered questionnaires to contractors and CRC members.  Validity of research instruments was obtained through piloting and expert evaluation while reliability was tested using test retest method. Inferential statistics of Multiple Linear Regression was applied to determine the influence of risk management strategy on implementation of road construction projects by testing the hypotheses for the study. Statistical significance was assessed at p<0.05. According to the study, risk management strategy accounted for 70.0% of change in implementation of road construction projects. It also discovered that risk management strategy was moderately applied in the roads construction projects in Migori County. In summary, the study concluded that, most roads being implemented did not factor into consideration risk management strategy as a result, they faced multiple implementation challenges related to cost, timelines and quality, however, risk management has a positive and significant influence on implementation of road construction projects in Migori County, Kenya. The study therefore recommends formal integration of risk management into all stages of road construction projects and embedding risk management within county project implementation guidelines.