Acquisition of Materials and Performance of Road Construction Projects in Kenya: A Case of Nairobi County

European Scientific Journal November 2016 edition vol.12, No.32 ISSN: 1857 – 7881 (Print) e - ISSN 1857- 7431 Acquisition of Materials and Performance of Road Construction Projects in Kenya: A Case of Nairobi County Msafiri Atibu Seboru Senior Principal Engineer, GIBB International Consulting Engineers Angeline Sabina Mulwa, Lecturer Dorothy Ndunge Kyalo, Senior Lecturer Charles M. Rambo, Associate Professor University of Nairobi, Department of Extra Mural Studies doi: 10.19044/esj.2016.v12n32p221 URL:http://dx.doi.org/10.19044/esj.2016.v12n32p221 Abstract This study sought to establish the influence of acquisition of materials on performance of road construction projects in Kenya: A case of Nairobi County. The objective of the study was to establish the extent to which acquisition of materials influences performance of road construction projects in Kenya. This study was anchored on the theory of controlling, theory of construction management, and stakeholder theory. The paradigm used was pragmatism and the research approach used was mixed methods. Cross sectional descriptive survey and correlational research design were used. The sample size was 74 senior engineers which comprised 30 senior engineers from consulting engineering firms and 44 senior engineers from construction companies; 74 managing directors which comprised 30 managing directors from consulting engineering firms and 44 managing directors from construction companies. A five point Likert type scale questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data while interview guides were used to collect qualitative data. The statistical tools of analysis that were used for descriptive data were frequencies, percentages, arithmetic mean and standard deviation while the statistical tools that were used for inferential statistics were Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation and Linear Regression. The Fisher (F) test was used to test the hypotheses. The results indicated that with R²=0.246, F(6,40)=2.173, p=0.066>0.05, H1 was rejected and it was concluded that acquisition of materials had no statistically significant influence on the performance of road construction projects. However, establishment of quantities of materials required had a statistically significant influence on the performance of road construction projects. The 221 European Scientific Journal November 2016 edition vol.12, No.32 ISSN: 1857 – 7881 (Print) e - ISSN 1857- 7431 study recommends that organizations that deal with road construction should have appropriate policies on establishment of quantities of materials required. Keywords: Acquisition of Materials, Performance of Road Construction Projects Introduction The performance of roads in Kenya has not been adequate considering the presence of potholes on the majority of roads. Congestion of traffic has become a serious problem particularly in the urban areas and this has resulted in in huge economic losses in terms of loss of man-hours and wastage of fuel. Acquisition of materials is very important in road construction projects since the materials are incorporated into the works to form the structure of the road. It is therefore important to study the influence of acquisition of materials on the performance of road construction projects in Kenya. Performance of road construction projects is the dependent variable whilst acquisition of materials is the independent variable. The indicators of acquisition of materials are establishment of material types required, establishment of quantities of materials required, testing for quality of materials, procurement of materials, storage of materials, and inventory control. This study is anchored on the theory of controlling, theory of construction management, and stakeholder theory as propagated by Koskela and Howell (2002), Radosavljevic and Bennett (2012), and Phillips, Freeman and Wicks (2003) respectively. Statement of Problem The performance of roads in Kenya has not been adequate considering the presence of potholes on the majority of roads. Traffic congestion has become a serious problem particularly in the urban areas. Gachanja (2015) contends that traffic congestion is one of the key concerns affecting performance of the transport system in Nairobi. In 2008, the economic cost of traffic jams in Nairobi Metropolitan Region was estimated at KShs. 1.9 billion annually, on account of cost of additional time spent on travel due to congestion. The type of traffic congestion being witnessed in Nairobi leads to increased costs, longer travel times, constrained economic productivity, and adverse health and environmental externalities. It has been observed that roads turn into rivers when there is downpour due the failure of the road drainage system. In response to this problem, this study proposed to investigate how the performance of road construction projects is influenced by acquisition of materials. Acquisition of materials is critical in the performance of road construction projects in that materials are incorporated 222 European Scientific Journal November 2016 edition vol.12, No.32 ISSN: 1857 – 7881 (Print) e - ISSN 1857- 7431 into the works to form the structure of the road. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of acquisition of materials on performance of road construction projects. Objective of the Study The objective of the study was to establish the extent to which acquisition of materials influences performance of road construction projects in Kenya. Hypothesis of the Study The following hypothesis was tested: H0: There is no significant relationship between acquisition of materials and performance of road construction projects. H1: There is a significant relationship between acquisition of materials and performance of road construction projects. Literature Review Kumar and Vikranth (2012) contend that construction material planning involves identifying the materials required, estimating quantities, defining specifications, forecasting requirements, locating resources for procurement, getting material samples approved, designing material inventory and developing procurement plan to ensure a smooth flow of materials till the connected construction work are completed at the project site. Ritz (1994) indicates that the basis for construction material resources planning is in the project materials plan. It is important that all the required material needs for the contract are covered in the project materials plan. Transport Research Laboratory (1999) asserts that the geological background of natural road building materials used in all areas of road construction has a profound effect on the engineering performance of these materials. The principal objective in acquiring information about road construction materials is to identify geotechnical materials that are capable of meeting the engineering, economic and environmental requirements of the project. Ayegba (2013) researched on material management on building constru (...truncated)