Risks Management Practices on Performance of Road Projects of Kenya Rural Roads Authority in Nakuru Region Kenya

Successful road project implementation improves traffic safety and road quality. The performance of road projects of Kenya Rural Roads Authority helps to improve the living conditions of the local population. However, the performance of road projects of Kenya Rural Roads Authority in Nakuru has been fraught with difficulties, which has hampered the quality of the roads that have been built. Delays in project completion, cost overruns, poor quality projects, disputes, litigation, and, in some cases, complete project abandonment. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of risks management practices on performance of road projects of Kenya Rural Roads Authority in Nakuru Region Kenya. The study was guided by the following objectives; to assess the effect of risk identification on performance of road projects of Kenya Rural Roads Authority and to establish the effect of risk mitigation policy on performance of road projects of Kenya Rural Roads Authority in Nakuru Region, Kenya. The study was guided by the following theories; Uncertain theory, Project Management Competency Theory, agency theory and Control Theory. This study used descriptive survey research design. The accessible population were 208 employees. The sample size was 136 respondents. The researcher used a questionnaire as the main research instrument. The completed questionnaires were entered into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 25 for coding. Data analysis involved both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize the quantitative data, providing a meaningful representation of the score distribution. These included frequencies, means, and standard deviations. For inferential statistics, correlation and multiple regression analyses were utilized. The analyzed data was presented using percentages, means, and standard deviations through frequency tables. The outcomes of this study are expected to aid the Government, specifically the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, in enhancing the quality of road construction in the county. This study would equally aid the county government in formulating policies and guidelines on how roads are supposed to be constructed with minimal risk. It was concluded that risk management practices are positive correlates of performance of road projects at KeRRA. It was recommended that in order to ensure timely completion of road projects at KeRRA within established quality standards, personnel and budget as well as schedule risks should be carefully identified by the project managers.  There is need for accurate estimation of all costs during risk measurement to avoid cost overruns that may negatively affect the quality of the roads constructed by KeRRA.  Project managers working with KeRRA should optimally leverage the existing methods of risk mitigation including avoidance, transfer and acceptance depending on the prevailing circumstances in order to enhance the quality and timeliness of the road projects.  There is need for sound policies governing risk management activities at KeRRA.