Thesis:

Project Management Practices and Performance Of Managed Equipment Service Projects In Kenya: A Case Of Kakamega County Referral Hospital

Managed Equipment Service (MES) projects in Kenya enhance healthcare infrastructure by providing essential medical equipment and maintenance services to public hospitals, addressing challenges of maintenance, availability, and quality. Through public-private partnership model, the government aims to improve healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved regions, contributing to enhanced patient outcomes and satisfaction. In Kenyan healthcare facilities, approximately 75% of medical equipment faces operational challenges due to being designed for high-income countries, coupled with poor procurement methods and inadequate maintenance. This research sought to investigate Project Management Practices and Performance of Managed Equipment Service (MES) Projects in Kenya, focusing on Kakamega County Referral Hospital. The study's objectives included evaluating the influence of project planning, stakeholder management, funding, and monitoring on the Performance of MES projects and the moderating influence of Government policies and regulations of the Project at the hospital. The study was anchored on the planning theory, supported by stakeholder and institutional theories. A descriptive research method was used in this study which targeted key stakeholders involved in Managed Equipment Service (MES) projects. The target population was 134 respondents drawn from 10 subgroups including Ministry of Health Implementation Committee members, project managers, field medical engineers, Association of Medical Engineers of Kenya (AMEK) members and County and hospital MES project implementation teams. 100 respondents were chosen using the Proportional Stratified Random Sampling Technique, and the sample size determined using the Krejcie and Morgan formula. Closedended surveys were utilized to gather respondents' opinions and thoughts. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, SPSS, was used for quantitative data analysis. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the correlations between different variables, and conclusions and suggestions drawn from the study findings. The researcher carefully followed ethical guidelines during the whole research period. From the findings, project management practices strongly correlate with the performance of the Managed Equipment Service (MES) project at Kakamega County Referral Hospital. Project planning showed a substantial positive correlation (r = 0.693, p < 0.001). Stakeholder engagement demonstrated a strong positive correlation (r = 0.712, p < 0.001). Project funding had a strong positive association (r = 0.677, p < 0.001). Lastly, project monitoring showed a positive correlation (r = 0.560, p < 0.001), suggesting it moderately contributes to MES project performance. The results showed that although government laws, stakeholder participation, and project planning had beneficial effects, there are still major issues with finance and resource distribution. Respondents expressed satisfaction with adherence to timelines and requirements, yet budget management emerged as a critical concern. Additionally, effective stakeholder communication and collaboration were recognized as essential for enhancing project outcome. The study recommended that the Ministry of Health should foster better communication and involve stakeholders in decision-making to boost collaboration and feedback implementation and the county treasury should secure adequate and timely funding to address budget concerns and enhance the financial management of MES projects. Future research should examine how targeted training programs for healthcare professionals and stakeholders can enhance communication and collaborative decision-making processes in Managed Equipment Service projects.