Resource Allocation Practices and Implementation of National Government Development Projects in Kiambu County, Kenya
Abstract
National government projects in Kenya are often delayed, scaled down or left unfinished. Resource allocation, meaning how adequate, timely and efficiently used financial, human and material resources are, is commonly blamed, but its separate influence on projects in Kiambu County has not been tested. This study determined the influence of resource allocation practices on the implementation of national government development projects in Kiambu County. It was guided by the Resource-Based View. A descriptive correlational design targeted 120 project managers, engineers, monitoring and evaluation officers and finance officers who worked on projects completed between 2020 and 2025. Yamane’s formula gave a sample of 92, drawn through stratified random sampling, and 86 usable questionnaires were returned (93.5%). The questionnaire combined five-point Likert items with open-ended questions. Data were analysed in SPSS using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and simple linear regression, and open-ended answers were coded thematically. The instrument was reliable (resource allocation α = .891; project implementation α = .846). Respondents rated resource allocation moderately well (mean = 3.67), with the adequacy of finance weakest (57.0% agreement). Resource allocation correlated strongly with project implementation (r = .628, p < .001) and explained 39.5% of its variance (R² = .395; F(1, 84) = 54.786, p < .001; B = .489). The relationship held after controlling for planning, leadership, and monitoring and evaluation (β = .391, p < .001). Delayed funding was the challenge cited most often (25.6%). The design is cross-sectional and perceptual, so the results show association and not causation. The study recommends predictable fund release schedules, early tracking of disbursements, faster procurement and independent verification of resource data.
Keywords: Resource allocation, project implementation, national government projects, Resource-Based View, Kiambu County, Kenya.
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