QUALITY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON IMPLEMENTATION OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN NAROK COUNTY, KENYA
Abstract
Purpose of the Study: The study examined the influence of quality management practices on the implementation of road construction projects in Narok County, Kenya. Specifically, the study assessed the effect of quality planning, quality control, quality improvement, and quality assurance on the implementation of road construction projects.
Statement of the Problem: Road infrastructure projects undertaken by county governments in Kenya often experience delays, cost overruns, poor workmanship, and stalled implementation. In Narok County, several road projects have failed to meet planned timelines and quality expectations, reducing value for public resources invested in infrastructure development. These challenges have been linked to weak quality management practices, creating the need to examine how quality planning, quality control, quality improvement, and quality assurance influence the implementation of road construction projects.
Research Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population comprised 150 employees and stakeholders involved in road construction projects within Narok County. Stratified random sampling was used to select 110 respondents. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires administered physically and online. A total of 82 questionnaires were filled and returned, representing a response rate of 75.0%. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including correlation and multiple regression analysis.
Findings: The regression results showed that quality management practices had a moderate positive relationship with the implementation of road construction projects, with R = 0.579 and R² = 0.435. This implies that quality planning, quality control, quality improvement, and quality assurance explained 43.5% of the variation in road construction project implementation. The overall model was statistically significant, F = 3.530, p = 0.019. Quality planning had a positive and significant effect on implementation of road construction projects (β = 0.408, p = 0.010), quality control also had a positive and significant effect (β = 0.127, p = 0.029), while quality improvement had a positive and significant effect (β = 0.123, p = 0.004). Quality assurance had a positive but borderline insignificant effect (β = 0.340, p = 0.053).
Conclusion: The study concludes that quality management practices are important drivers of road construction project implementation in Narok County. Quality planning, quality control, and quality improvement significantly enhanced project implementation, while quality assurance had practical value despite not being statistically significant at the 0.05 level. The findings show that road construction projects are more likely to meet timelines, scope, budget, and stakeholder expectations when quality management practices are properly institutionalized.
Recommendations: The study recommends that Narok County should strengthen quality planning by setting clear quality objectives, standards, and project requirements before implementation begins. The county should also enhance quality control through regular inspections, monitoring, testing, and correction of defects. In addition, project teams should promote continuous quality improvement by reviewing defect reports, using project data, and applying corrective and preventive actions. Quality assurance should also be improved through regular audits, qualified auditors, compliance checks, and quality reporting to support transparency and successful road project implementation.
Keywords: Quality management practices, quality planning, quality control, quality improvement, quality assurance, road construction projects, project implementation, Narok County, Kenya
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