STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATION AND PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH SECTOR PROJECTS IN KENYA
Abstract
Purpose of the study: The purpose of the study was to determine the role of stakeholder communication in the performance of public health sector projects in Kenya.
Statement of problem: In the Kenyan context, persistent challenges such as delayed implementation, budget overruns, and unsatisfactory project outcomes have been closely associated with communication gaps among key actors. Reports from the Office of the Auditor General and the Parliamentary Health Committee confirm that public health projects in Kenya continue to experience delays of 6 to 14 months and budget overruns of 5% to 50%. A major contributing factor identified is insufficient engagement of critical stakeholders during crucial project phases such as planning, execution, and evaluation.
Research Methodology: The study employed a mixed-methods research design guided by pragmatism to investigate how stakeholder communication impacts project performance. The research focused on 108 ongoing public health projects in Kenya, with stratified sampling applied to organize projects by category, followed by purposive sampling to select key respondents. Using Yamane's formula with a 5% margin of error, 97 projects were selected for detailed study. Primary data were collected using self-administered questionnaires containing both closed and open-ended questions, administered by trained research assistants over two weeks.
Findings: Results demonstrated a strong positive correlation between stakeholder communication and project performance, with communication accounting for approximately 80.8% of the variance in project success. The correlation coefficient revealed a high positive association, while ANOVA results confirmed the model's statistical significance. Regression coefficients indicated that improved communication leads to better timeliness, budget adherence, and quality outcomes.
Conclusions: The study concludes that stakeholder communication significantly impacts the performance of public health projects in Kenya. Projects with well-structured communication channels, early stakeholder engagement, and robust feedback mechanisms are more likely to achieve their objectives within planned timelines and budgets.
Recommendations: The study recommends that project managers should prioritize developing structured communication plans that engage stakeholders consistently throughout the project lifecycle. Organizations should establish early and continuous engagement mechanisms, implement robust feedback systems, develop detailed communication strategies, and invest in capacity-building programs for project teams.
Keywords: Stakeholder Communication, Project Performance, Public Health Projects, Kenya, Regression Analysis, Project Management
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