Abstract:
This study aimed to assess client-related factors influencing public building construction projects
in the Arusha City Council (ACC). The specific objectives of the study were to assess effect of
inadequate project design on public buildings constructions, assess effect of political
intervention on public buildings constructions, and to assess influence of decision-making
challenges on public buildings constructions projects in Arusha City Council. The study used
the descriptive research design and adopted the survey strategy. Mixed method research
approach (qualitative and quantitative) was employed to collect and analyse data from a sample
of 55 participants. Tools used to collect primary data were the semi-structured questionnaire
and interview guide. Cross tabulation with Chi square tests was deployed to analyse data. The
study found that inadequate project design, variations due to inadequate design, effect of
insufficient budget, inadequate project design and insufficient professional staff are the main
causes of delays in public buildings constructions project at Arusha City council (ACC). The
study also found out that political intervention, decision making challenges such as bureaucracy,
unnecessary directives by government officials and delays on payment of interim certificates
are the causes of delaying public building construction projects in ACC. The study
recommended that, the government should employ adequate number of building construction
engineers, quality assurance officers, as well as project monitoring and evaluations officers who
are expected to be tasked to ensure that projects are designed adequately and their execution
are managed and monitored effectively. Also, the government should avail adequate budget for
all public building construction works and should pay interim certificates timely to avoid delaying
the projects. In addition, the government should formulate and institute a general guideline that
obstruct politician and government officers to be bid for public building construction works in
their respective councils. This measure is expected to prevent conflict of interest among
politicians and government officers.
