Project Stakeholder Management and Performance of World Bank Funded Projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47941/jepm.3849Keywords:
Project Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Continuous Monitoring and AdjustmentAbstract
Purpose: This study sought to examine the influence of stakeholder management practices on the performance of World Bank funded projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Specifically, the study investigated the effect of stakeholder engagement and continuous monitoring and adjustment on project performance. The study was guided by Social Exchange Theory and Systems Theory.
Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive research design to examine the relationship between stakeholder management practices and project performance. The unit of analysis consisted of 40 World Bank funded projects implemented in Kenya between 2020 and 2025 with national implementation scope that includes Nairobi City County. A census approach was used at the project level, while purposive sampling was used to select four key respondents from each project, yielding an expected sample size of 160 respondents. Primary data was collected using a structured questionnaire containing closed-ended Likert scale items measuring stakeholder management practices and project performance. A pilot study involving approximately 10 percent of the target respondents was conducted to test the clarity and suitability of the instrument. Data was coded and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29. Descriptive statistics including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations summarized the data, while Pearson correlation analysis examined relationships between variables. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the influence of independent variables on the performance of World Bank funded projects.
Findings: The study established that stakeholder engagement and continuous monitoring and adjustment were widely practiced in World Bank-funded projects in Nairobi City County. The findings further revealed that all the stakeholder management practices had a positive and significant influence on project performance, with continuous monitoring and adjustment emerging as the most influential factor. The study concluded that effective stakeholder management is essential for enhancing the performance and success of World Bank-funded projects.
Unique Contributions to Theory, Policy, and Practice: The study recommends strengthening stakeholder identification, engagement, expectation management, and continuous monitoring practices to improve project performance and sustainability.
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