ABSTRACT

Projects face hurdles ranging from cost overruns, inefficiency, delays, compromised quality and ineffectiveness in meeting set objectives. The main threat to a project are mainly the expected and unexpected risks. Diligent project management dictates that all risks involved are identified, managed, controlled, mitigated or avoided to ensure a project succeeds. Women groups are mainly composed on interest groups whose background in project and risk management knowledge, skills and experience may be below expecations. This compromises successful project completion. Members of such groups like in Katulani Ward get the projects with good intentions but they fail to materialize due to poor risk management. The study sought to fill the gap by establishing the effect of risk management practices on completion of women group projects in Katulani Ward, Kitui County. This study was guided by the following specific objectives; to establish the outcome of Risk planning, Risk identification, Risk analysis and Risk control on completion of women group projects in Katulani Ward, Kitui County. Risk management theory and agency theory were the theories that the study was anchored on, in relation to the area of study. The research adopted a descriptive research design. Primary data for the study was collected using semi-structured questionnaires. The target population was 8 women Self Help Groups comprising of 583 management staff and beneficiaries. A stratified sample of 30 percent was carried out which generated 175 respondents. Validity and reliability were carried out to test the accuracy and consistency of the research instruments. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the analysis of the data. Data was analysed and coded using SPSS Version 23.0. Descriptive statistics; means, frequencies, standard deviation and percentages were utilised to analyse data while tables and charts were used in presenting the findings while a multiple regression was used in the inferential analysis. It was established that risk management practices selected which include risk planning, risk identification, risk analysis and risk control positively and significantly influenced the completion of women group projects in Katulani Ward, Kitui County. The conclusion of the study was that women group projects to a significant extent embraced risk management practices to enhance their timely, effective and efficient completion. The conclusion of the study was that to a significant extent the projects conducted a risk analysis to figure out risk occurrence, management and schedule risks, model and share ideas on risk management. It was concluded that the projects embraced risk control mechanisms by having procedures, agents, new technology, seminars and symposia, schemes and allocating resources to promote timely and quality completion of women group projects in Katulani Ward. The study recommends that the women group projects in Katulani Ward, Kitui County need to conduct robust risk analysis to enable them to prepare, mitigate and control risks. The study also recommends that there is a need for projects to develop concrete risk control measures to enable them to stay afloat and enhance smooth completion.