PROJECT RESOURCE MOBILIZATION AND THE PERFORMANCE OF ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS BY LOCAL CONTRACTORS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Despite significant government investments in road infrastructure projects within Nairobi City County—such as budget allocations for road expansions, upgrades, and maintenance—many projects face persistent challenges, including delays, cost overruns, and subpar quality. The underperformance of these projects hampers local economic growth and exacerbates urban poverty and unemployment. This study examined the effect of project resource mobilization on the performance of road infrastructure projects executed by local contractors in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Anchored in resource dependency theory and guided by the positivism philosophy, the study adopted both descriptive and explanatory research designs. The target population comprised 165 road infrastructure projects undertaken between 2015 and 2022, with respondents including 165 local contractors, three senior monitoring and evaluation officials from KENHA, KURA, and KERRA, and one senior officer from the county public works department. Given the small population, a census approach was used to collect data from all 169 respondents. Primary data was gathered using a semi-structured questionnaire based on a 5-point Likert scale. The findings revealed that project resource mobilization had a positive and significant impact on the performance of road infrastructure projects in Nairobi City County. The study concludes that adequate resource mobilization enhances project efficiency and recommends strengthening financial and material resource allocation frameworks to improve project outcomes.