Community Workshops and Implementation of Road Maintenance Projects by Kenya National Highways Authority in South Rift Region, Kenya

Abstract

Effective engagement of the community in road maintenance projects promotes local needs and preferences, leading to more relevant and responsive initiatives. In particular, the community workshops cultivates a sense of ownership and collaboration among community members. This fosters trust between stakeholders and contributes significantly to the success and sustainability of road maintenance efforts. However, road maintenance projects in Kenya have continually demonstrated inadequate implementation with delays in repairs leading to extended road deterioration and increased safety risks. The present study examined the effect of community workshops, as a strategy of community engagement on the implementation of road maintenance projects in South Rift Region, Kenya. The study was grounded on stakeholder theory. A descriptive research design was adopted. The target population consisted of 28 road maintenance projects by KeNHA, South Rift Region. Both descriptive and inferential methods were applied in the analysis. In the descriptive analysis, means, percentages and standard deviations were employed. On the other hand, correlation and regression analysis were used in inferential analysis. The Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) aided data analysis, and the findings were presented through tables. The descriptive findings indicated that community workshops play a vital role in the implementation of road maintenance projects by Kenya National Highways Authority. Correlation analysis revealed significant positive relationships between community workshops (r = 0.744**, p = 0.000) and implementation of road maintenance projects. Regression analysis further demonstrated a strong overall relationship between community workshops and implementation of road maintenance projects. The coefficient of determination R² value of 0.554, indicated that 55.4% of the variation in road maintenance project implementation is explained by community workshops. The study concludes that community workshops enhance collaboration and coordination. They improve communication, accountability, and sustained involvement, ultimately strengthening the implementation of road maintenance projects. The study recommends Kenya National Highways Authority embed community workshops into operational framework to boost stakeholder alignment, and improve implementation of road maintenance projects.