Stakeholder Participation and Performance of Residential Housing Construction Projects in Westlands Sub-County, Nairobi County, Kenya

According to United Nations statistics, 3 billion people live in urban slums due to urbanization and population growth. Word Economic Forum projects that by the year 2050, more than a third of the population across the globe will reside in urban areas. Design, planning, maintenance, and management of residential houses and the residential environment have a long-term effect on the prosperity, quality of life, health, and happiness of individuals and communities. The general objective of this study was to examine stakeholder participation practice and performance of residential housing construction projects in the unique and diverse context of Westland’s sub-county in Nairobi County, Kenya. This location, known for its diversity and being the most affluent neighbourhood in Nairobi County, hosts all kinds of residential units, from single rooms to houses with their compounds. Project management competency, stakeholder, and constraint theory formed the study's theoretical basis. The study applied descriptive research design and targeted 256 respondents, including project managers, architects, engineers, and developers of 64 private ongoing residential housing projects in Westland Sub-County. The study employed a robust methodology to ensure the reliability of its findings. A sample size of 156 respondents was selected through stratified random sampling. Primary data was collected through structured questionnaires, with the active participation of project managers, architects, engineers, and developers. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS, Version 25.0) was used to analyze quantitative data. The study generated descriptive statistics; multiple regression explained the relationship between study variables. Tables and graphs were used to present the results of the data analysis. Study findings revealed a positive relationship between independent and dependent variables. Stakeholder participation revealed a vital positive relationship (r=0.68) on the performance of residential construction housing projects. The study recommends the inclusion of stakeholders in every stage of projects; their opinions count but should be filtered to avoid mix-ups. The study further recommended that future researchers be limited to surveyors, engineers, and project managers and explore other players involved in project planning and implementation of residential housing projects, providing a roadmap for further research and practical applications. Keywords: planning practices, project management, project performance, stakeholder involvement, project supervision, budget allocation