Exploring the Determinants of Regulatory Compliance in Construction Projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Authors

  • David Lagat Department of Construction Management, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya | National Construction Authority (NCA), Kenya https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6200-9049
  • Mugwima Njuguna Centre for Urban Studies, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya
  • Titus Kivaa School of Architecture and Building Sciences, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya
  • Simon Mutungi Department of Construction Management, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya
Volume: 15 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 23189-23196 | June 2025 | https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.10298

Abstract

This study explores the determinants of regulatory compliance in construction projects within Nairobi City County, Kenya. It identifies nine factors influencing compliance: Suitability of the Project Legal Framework (SLF), Proactiveness of Regulatory Agencies (PRA), Efficiency in Regulatory Processes (ERP), Conduciveness of the Construction Task Environment (CTE), Characteristics of the Project Client (CPC), Competency of Project Leaders (CPL), Goodness of Construction Labour (GCL), Stability of the Prevailing Economic Environment (SEE), and Adherence to Ethical Factors (AEF). A cross-sectional research design sampled 261 projects, with data having been collected through semi-structured questionnaires administered to construction site supervisors. Multiple Regression Analysis (MRA) was used to analyze the data. The results show that approximately 67% of the variability in regulatory compliance is explained by the nine factors with six significant predictors emerging: CPC, SLF, CTE, CPL, GCL, and PRA. The study found that a more suitable legal framework, more proactive regulatory agencies, a conducive construction environment, competent project leaders, better construction labor, and positive client characteristics all contribute to higher levels of regulatory compliance. The study proposes a detailed review and optimization of the six significant factors in the preparation of compliance tools to ensure enhanced building regulation. It emphasizes a holistic approach to regulatory compliance encompassing legal, procedural, environmental, and human factors to help reduce building failure, and hence save lives and property.

Keywords:

regulatory compliance, Multiple Regression Analysis (MRA), construction

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How to Cite

[1]
D. Lagat, M. Njuguna, T. Kivaa, and S. Mutungi, “Exploring the Determinants of Regulatory Compliance in Construction Projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya”, Eng. Technol. Appl. Sci. Res., vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 23189–23196, Jun. 2025.

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