SUSTAINABILITY OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROJECTS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA
Thiong’o D. K. - Masters of Business Administration, Kenyatta University, Kenya
Dr. Kinoti K. F. - Department of Business Administration, Kenyatta University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Literature points to the fact that many public projects face sustainability related challenges even after completion thus jeopardizing the projects intended objectives. This has, therefore, informed the researcher to conduct a research based on the sustainability of public health projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study utilized three research objectives; to establish effect of stakeholder participation/involvement in the sustainability of public health projects in Nairobi City County, to find out the effect of communication in the sustainability of public health projects in Nairobi City County and investigating the effect of top management support on the sustainability of public health projects in Nairobi City County. A period covering a span of 5 years, from 2011 to 2016 was used in the study. Theories such as stewardship theory, sustainability theory and administrative theory were employed. The study employed exploratory design as the preferred research approach. The study targeted all the 43 senior public health managers in the ministry of health based at the Nairobi County Government, City Hall. The researcher then adopted simple random sampling procedure to select 22 senior health project managers. The study collected primary data from the selected respondents by use of formulated questionnaires. The study conducted pretesting of instruments and a reliability coefficient of 0.57 was found. The study then analyzed the collected data by use of descriptive statistics. Diagnostic tests in the form of normality, serial correlation and heteroskedasticity were used. It was found that data were normally distributed, there was no serial correlation and heteroskedasticity was not presented. The study also utilized multiple regression analysis method. It found that communication, top management support and stakeholder participation had positive effect on the sustainability of public health project in the County. The study concludes that there was presence of stakeholder participation within the County. The presence of stakeholder participation was also affirmed by the regression results that showed that increase in stakeholder participation lead to sustainable projects. The study concludes that there was presence of effective communication channels in the County. The significance of communication was also evident in the regression results that concluded that the variable had positive relationship with the sustainability of project as such an increase in communication led to sustainable projects. It concluded that top management supported the sustainability of public health projects in the County. The study recommended that the County should engage stakeholders more in all stages to harmonize its objectives and goals with the needs of the stakeholders. The study recommends that the public health project managers should communicate effectively and efficiently regarding cost, time and quality as these factors plays a vital role on sustainable project. The study recommends that top management must be subjected to regular training to enhance their contribution on sustainability of projects as this will sharpen their skills and knowledge to enhance the sustainability and management of public health related projects within the City County of Nairobi, Kenya.
