Influence of Communication Systems on Performance of Contractors in Building Public Projects in Pokot Central Sub-County, West Pokot County, Kenya

Abstract

This study determined the influence of Communication Systems on Performance of Contractors in Building Public Projects in Pokot Central Sub-County, West Pokot County, Kenya. The study was anchored on the Theory of Constraints as proposed by Goldratt in 1984. The study adopted descriptive survey research design, which considered the use of structured questionnaires and interview schedules. The Target population was estimated to be 1500 (contractors and officials from regulatory agency) while the sample size was determined using Mora and Kloet formula and was 315. Stratified and random sampling was used to identify contractors. Purposive sampling was used to identify officials from the regulatory agency. Data collection was done by administering questionnaires to contractors in building public projects while officials from regulatory agencies responded to interviews. Quantitative data from questionnaires was analyzed using SPSS software version 22 to determine frequencies and percentages. Qualitative data from interviews was analyzed using thematic analysis where responses were organized in themes and sub-themes as they relate to objectives and indicators respectively. From the study, 89.7%, 85.0%, 84.7% and 83.0% of the respondents stated that communication systems, influenced performance of building contractors. Further, 90.0% respondents stated that effective communication from clients influenced performance of building contractors. The study concludes that Building Contractors (BCs) from Pokot Central and its environs suffers the challenge of poor communication network and infrastructural challenges, which have negatively influenced their performance. Contract suppliers might be failing to enhance communication with contractors because of waiting for approval from authorities to dispatch information to contractors, which largely influence performance. Performance of BCs rely on the cooperation between all stakeholders in the building and construction industry.  It was recommended that the County Government should work closely with the National Government to build network masts and transmitters to enhance communication.