Omollo, W O (2019) Barriers to the effective regulation of the building construction industry: An empirical analysis. Journal of Construction Business and Management, 3(2), pp. 49-58. ISSN 2521-0165
Abstract
This study investigates key barriers to the effective regulation of the building construction industry in Kenya, a case study of Kisii Town. It was guided by the Public Interest Theory of Regulation, which provided the underpinning elucidating why the building construction industry in Kenya needs regulation. The target population comprised 84 registered building contractors with a sample size of 66 selected using simple random sampling by application of random number table. As regards limitation, the study does not measure the extent of quality assurance within the construction industry, but rather delve on the key factors impeding its effective regulation. The research findings show that ineffective regulation of the construction industry in Kisii Town was prompted by the joint activities of building development contractors and limitations of the National Construction Authority (NCA) (the regulator). Regarding the activities of building contractors, identified barriers included failure to refer to key legislation that regulates the construction industry, failure to obtain statutory approvals of building development, and laxity to invite supervision of ongoing projects by planning authorities. Conversely, factors elucidating why NCA was not successfully regulating the construction industry included inadequate multi-sectoral coordination, inadequate surveillance, and limited sensitization of key stakeholders. Drawing from these findings, the study recommends regular monitoring and enhanced enforcement that would promote compliance and sensitization of contractors with applicable standards and regular inspections of ongoing projects. Also, establishing a coordinating committee to harmonize institutions that deal with development control.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | compliance; Kenya; public interest theory; questionnaire survey; regulation |
| Index terms: | questionnaire, monitoring, building contractor, sampling, supervision, regulator, population, approval, drawing, public interest theory, construction industry, compliance, coordination, quality assurance, inspection, enforcement, survey, sample size, case study, building construction, legislation, planning authority, regulation, surveillance, Kenya |
| Subjects: | practitioner, sociology, Geography, economic theory, industry analysis, legal systems, building construction, technical documentation, contractual role, demography, monitoring and control systems, quality assurance, health safety and environment, management, research design and methodology, data collection methods, control systems, political science |
| Topics: | Construction Technology, Site Management, Urban Studies, Stakeholder Management, Quality Management, Project Management, Health and Safety, Design Practice, Research Practice, Legal Issues, Organizational Design, Roles and Professions, Contract Administration, Governance, Geographical Context |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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