Project Planning Practices and the Performance of Affordable Housing Projects in Nairobi County, Kenya: Evidence from Construction Professionals

Delays, cost overruns, and quality challenges in affordable housing delivery indicate the need to understand the project management practices associated with project performance. This study examined the relationship between project planning practices and the performance of affordable housing projects in Nairobi County, Kenya, while considering project financing, project monitoring, and stakeholder engagement as additional predictors. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted, targeting construction professionals involved in seven government affordable housing project sites in Nairobi County, Kenya. A sample of 138 professionals was obtained from a target population of 210, and data were collected using structured Likert-scale questionnaires. The data were analysed using Pearson correlation, simple linear regression, and multiple linear regression. Project planning had a positive, statistically significant relationship with project performance (r = .247, p = .003) and explained 6.1% of the variance in performance in the simple regression model (R² = .061). In the multiple regression model, project planning remained the only statistically significant predictor (β = .238, p = .006). The full model was statistically significant, F(4, 133) = 2.808, p = .028, and explained 7.8% of the variance in project performance (R² = .078; adjusted R² = .050). Project financing, monitoring, and stakeholder engagement were not statistically significant unique predictors in the full model. The findings indicate that project planning practices, including formal scheduling, realistic timelines, clearly defined objectives, work breakdown structures, and advance resource planning, are significantly associated with affordable housing project performance. The study recommends strengthening planning processes, particularly realistic scheduling and risk consideration, to support project implementation.