Assessment of critical success factors affecting the performance of energy efficient stoves projects in Kenya

Abstract

A lot of project initiatives fall short of expectations, and improving project performance is a difficult task. Currently, despite their benefits, the international initiatives, and the fact that Kenya was among the pioneer adopters and marketers of energy-efficient stoves, the adoption rate is still less than 15% countrywide. The overall aim of this study, therefore, was to establish the critical success factors affecting the performance of energy-efficient stoves projects in Kenya. It was confined to four independent variables; project goal setting and direction, project team competence, project communication, and project finance management practices. The dependent variable was the performance of the energy-efficient stoves projects in Kenya. The study used mixed methods, that is, quantitative and qualitative methods to be able to answer the research questions. The study was carried out in three counties in Kenya, that is; Nakuru, Kericho, and Kisumu Counties. The project involved 16 energy-saving stoves projects in the three counties in Kenya which were selected using the census design. The study used structured questionnaires and interview schedules for data ollection. Descriptive Statistics were used to summarize the data, including means, medians, standard deviations, and percentages. Inferential Statistics involved both Pearson Correlation and multiple regression analysis to examine the relationship between independent variables (measures of critical success factors) and dependent variables (performance indicators of energy efficient stoves). Thematic content analysis was used for the qualitative examination of the data taken from the interview schedules. The study revealed that goal setting and direction, project communication practices and project financial management practices significantly affected the performance of the energy-efficient stoves projects in Kenya.