Student Short Biography
(Max 250 words)
Mwangi Isaiah Gichohi developed an interest in Project Management having been involved in Construction Consultance while working with Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA). After several years of work at these organisazions, he enrolled for a maters course. Prior to this, he had pursued a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering degree at Jomo Kenya Universisty of Agriculture and Technology where he graduated with Second Class Honors, Upper Division.
Isaiah Gichohi is currently an Assistant Engineer with APEC Consortium Engineers, a Civil Engineering Consultance Company in Kenya, that has specialty in managing projects that relate to construction of roads, airport runways, sewers, buildings, drains, and slopes stabilization. His pursuance of Masters of Arts in Project Planning and Management was in a bid to further horn his Management and Planning skills.
Thesis / Project Title
Critical success factors influencing the performance of aviation infrastructure projects in Kenya; A case of Moi International Airport
Thesis / Project Abstract
(Max 250 words)
The success of aviation construction projects can be guaranteed by identifying and managing adverse effects of barriers to project success. A variety of factors contributing to the success of aviation infrastructural projects have been identified in literature. However, these factors vary from one country to another and it is vital to assess specific ones to the aviation construction projects in Kenya. Hence, the study seeks to fill empirical gaps by assessing whether these factors are critical to the performance of infrastructure project in Kenyan aviation industry. The study used descriptive research design as the appropriate design for conducting the study. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select the sample of 160 participants from the sub-groups’ consultants, contractors, KAA officials, and material suppliers. The collected data via semi-structured questionnaire was analyzed using SPSS program version 23 to generate descriptive results while multiple regression analysis was used to generate inferential statistics. Descriptive results indicate that timely project financing, contractor competency, stakeholder participation, and management skills were critical factors influencing the performance of aviation construction projects in Kenya. The model summary has an R square value of 0.549 indicating that independent variables account for 54.9% of the variation in the performance of aviation construction projects. Regression analysis showed that all independent variables (timely financing, contractor competency, stakeholder participation, and management skills) are significant correlated with the performance of aviation construction projects because they have p values of less than 5%. The findings further indicate that all variables have positive effects on project performance. However, there are also contributing factors to project performance captured as intervening variables. These factors include bad weather, natural catastrophes and pandemics such as earthquakes and Covid-19, security threats and political interference. Based on these results, the study recommends for the timely provisions of finance for all project activities. There is a need to consider planning and team management competencies in sourcing for contractors. Key stakeholders should also be involved in making important decisions, identification of projects, and mobilization of project resources. Finally, given the significant role of management skills in driving a successful performance of aviation construction projects, the study recommended effective assessment of management skills of projects managers. Consideration should be given to those with excellent project management skills, leadership skills, financial and cost management skills, and time management skills.
Student’s Google scholar link
(affiliated to student’s university email)
Other relevant academic links
N/A
Research Supervisors
Dr. Johnbosco Kisimbi
