EFFECT OF DIGITAL MONITORING ON PERFORMANCE OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS: A CASE OF KABARNET AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN KENYA.

Government construction projects in Kenya continue to experience persistent challenges such as cost overruns, delayed completion, poor quality outcomes, and limited transparency in implementation despite significant investments in infrastructure development. These inefficiencies are often exacerbated by reliance on manual reporting systems and fragmented record keeping practices, which hinder real-time detection of project deviations and weaken accountability mechanisms. Although digital monitoring systems and modern project management technologies have been introduced in certain sectors to enhance project tracking and reporting, their integration into government construction practices particularly within affordable housing initiatives remains inconsistent. Empirical findings indicate that digital technologies can significantly enhance construction project performance. For instance, research conducted in Nairobi City County found that the adoption of selected digital technologies improved design coordination, project management, cost control, and quality outcomes in construction projects (Mungai, 2021). However, the broader adoption of such technologies across government projects continues to face challenges, including limited technical capacity, unclear implementation strategies, and resistance to change among stakeholders. While digital monitoring systems are intended to strengthen accountability, reduce corruption, and improve operational efficiency in public projects, there remains limited empirical evidence evaluating their direct impact on project performance outcomes, such as completion rates, cost control, and adherence to project schedules. Most existing studies focus primarily on the adoption of digital systems rather than assessing their measurable influence on project performance. For example, Mutangili (2025) examined Kenya’s Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) used in digital procurement and found that although it enhanced transparency and auditability, its effectiveness was constrained by uneven usage across counties, inadequate training, and inconsistent system utilization. Despite these insights, there is still limited systematic empirical evidence examining how digital monitoring systems influence critical performance indicators such as schedule adherence, expenditure management, and quality control in national and county government construction projects in Kenya. Furthermore, contextual challenges such as insufficient digital skills within the construction industry, resistance to technological change, weak policy and regulatory frameworks, and infrastructural limitations may moderate the effectiveness of these systems. However, these moderating factors have not been sufficiently examined in existing literature. This gap limits the ability of policymakers, government agencies, and project managers to make evidence-based decisions regarding investments in digital monitoring technologies for construction project management. Consequently, there is a need for a focused empirical study to evaluate the impact of digital monitoring systems on the performance of government construction projects in Kenya. Such a study will provide actionable insights that can support improved governance, strengthen accountability mechanisms, enhance service delivery, and promote more efficient and sustainable infrastructure development.