Optimizing Public Private Partnership in Implementation of Railway Transport Projects in Kenya: A Case of the National Standard Gauge Railway

Abstract

All over the world, the growing demand for transport infrastructure is on its high and with it comes overstretched and widened fiscal constraints, leading governments to seek specialized financing cooperation between the public and private sectors, known as Public-Private-Partnership (PPP). This study sought to investigate the influence of public-private-partnership on implementation of railway transport project: A case of Standard Gauge Railway in Kenya. The objectives of the study were to determine the influence of public-private-partnership’s financing and private consortium on implementation of railway transport project. The study was grounded on the Agency and Game theories. The study adopted both descriptive survey and interview research designs. The study’s target population was the staff working at Kenya Railways, standard gauge railway consultant, standard gauge railway consultant contractor and PPP Unit, totalling to 100 respondents. The study’s sample size was 94. The study adopted purposive and stratified random sampling techniques. Quantitative data was collected through closed ended questionnaires while qualitative data was collected through interview guides. The quantitative data was coded by Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS). The statistical tools of analysis used for descriptive data were arithmetic mean and standard deviation, with the variables attaining a composite mean ranging between 3.885 and 4.195 and standard deviation ranging between 0.864 and 0.932. The statistical tools of analysis used for inferential statistics was Pearson Moment Correlation, with the variables attaining a strong positive correlation ranging between 0.735 and 0.889. The study concluded that public-private partnership’s financing and private consortium influence implementation of railway transport project. The study recommended that governments adopt public-private-partnership as the way forward to railway projects’ implementation and private consortium to have organization cultures that are simple to understand.