Assessment of construction practices in building development projects in Ruiru municipality, Kenya

Construction industry is a catalyst for holistic development that drives economic growth, enhances social equity, pioneers’ technological advancements, and promotes environmental stewardship. The execution of construction practices requires resources, which include financial, technical and human. Despite recognition of environmental degradation and economic opportunities, there remains a notable gap in understanding how construction actors reconcile cost-efficiency with sustainability, particularly in applying financial planning tools to curb cost overruns while promoting environmentally responsible practices. This paper assesses construction practices in building development projects in Ruiru Municipality, Kenya. Data from 95 building development projects sampled through stratified sampling based on project value followed by administration of questionnaires to respondents comprising of contractors, site supervisors and project managers. The data was analyzed using frequency and percentages. The findings revealed that, while material planning and site preparation are generally wellimplemented, critical deficiencies in financial and human resource planning, particularly within residential and religious projects. The study recommends introducing targeted capacity building initiatives to enhance financial and human resourceplanning by training stakeholders in budget forecasting, cost control, and workforce scheduling, and by developing standardized frameworks to ensure consistency and accountability.