Impact of Regulatory Framework on Performance of Building Construction Projects in Kenya: Case Study of Murang’a County

Abstract

In Kenya, there has been increased number of collapsed buildings despite the existence of various regulatory frameworks. In Murang’a County for instance, between 2017 and 2021, 4 building structures collapsed. This is happening despite the regulatory framework operating in the building construction industry in Kenya. This has put into doubt the regulatory framework operating in the building construction industry, hence, there was need for empirical research into the effect of regulatory framework on performance of building construction projects in Murang’a County. The specific objectives were to assess the existing approval processes in building construction projects in Murang’a County, to investigate the effect of professional, national, and county regulatory practices on performance of building construction projects in Murang’a County, and to model the impacts of regulatory practices on performance of building construction projects in Murang’a County. The study adopted a mixed descriptive survey research design. The target population for the study comprised 260 professionals, supervisors, and contractors involved in the building construction industry in Murang’a County. They included 10 Public Health Officers, 10 Sub county Planners, 7 Chief Officers, 22 Environmental Impact Assessment experts, 14 National Environment Management Authority Officers, 14 National Construction Authority Officers, 40 Developers, 28 Engineers, 28 Architects, 43 Site Supervisors, 44 Contractors. A sample of 158 was used in the study. The study adopted cluster, proportionate, and purposive sampling techniques. Data was collected through questionnaire, interviews, and Focus Group Discussions. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. The overall result of the findings indicated that regulatory framework was statistically significant in explaining the performance of building construction projects in Murang’a County, while for respective predictors: Existing approval processes and Murang’a County Government regulatory practices had significant negative effect on performance of building construction projects; while Professional regulatory practices and National regulatory practices had positive significant effect on performance of building construction projects. It was concluded, that all the three constructs of regulatory framework, individually, had impacted on the performance of the building construction projects to a moderate extent, while the overall regression statistics showed that regulatory framework was strongly associated with performance of building construction projects in Murang’a County. The study recommends that all the regulatory authorities at the professional, national, and county government levels should improve the existing approval processes by reducing waiting time, removing duplication, and automating the systems; discourage unethical practices by introducing stiff penalties and sanctions against professionals and contractors who are found to engage in unethical behaviors like bribery and noncompliance with prescribed regulatory framework, and Murang’a County Government should improve regulatory services by building capacity, employing more staff, minimizing costs, and conducting regular monitoring and supervision of the building construction projects