PROJECT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND PERFORMANCE OF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AT KAKUMA REFUGEE CAMP, KENYA

Samuel Lopetet Apolosiri, Dr. Richard Mwangangi, Dr. Susan Naikuru, Dr. Samson P. Nyang’au

Abstract


Purpose: The objective of the study was to examine the impact of project management practices on performance of development programs at Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya.

Methodology This study adopted a descriptive research design. The study focused on 20 development programmes organisations spread on 8 categories of Education, Health, Livelihood and Vocational Training, Protection, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, Food and Nutrition, Energy and Environment and finally the Community Development and Capacity Building programs at Kakuma refugee Camp. Given a population of 1550 employees study sample size 318 was obtained using Yamane’s formula. The primary data collection instrument used in this study was structured questionnaires. Both descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted.

Findings: The optimal regression model, which integrated project planning, risk management, stakeholder engagement, and monitoring processes, demonstrated strong explanatory power, accounting for 69.2% of the variance in the performance of development programs. Among the predictors, the monitoring process emerged as the most influential factor, followed by risk management and project planning

Recommendations: The study generally recommends that humanitarian and development actors in Kakuma should include integrated project management principles into their organizational policy, including planning, risk management, stakeholder involvement, and monitoring process. Donors and implementing partners can also align their financial mechanisms to complement these principles, making programs more sustainable, efficient, and responsive to community needs.

Keywords: Project management practices, project planning, risk management, stakeholder engagement, monitoring process, performance of development programs 


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