Developing a Model Framework for Effective Maintenance of Public Office Buildings in Kenya: A survey of Multi Storeyed Office Buildings in Nairobi.

Abstract

Public buildings create space within which the organs of any government operate to deliver the much needed services to the citizens. An effective and efficient maintenance system is key to enhancement of the service life of buildings. In Kenya and most other third world countries, the national budgetary allocations are way below the projected cost of building maintenance programmes leading to prolonged and unchecked deterioration of buildings. The aim of this study was to develop a model of maintenance framework for effective maintenance of public office buildings in Kenya with the purpose of minimizing maintenance costs. Consequently, the study endeavored to develop an effective maintenance model addressing budgetary constraints and operational structures of public institutions. The research strategy is both qualitative and quantitative and was executed through a survey of sampled public office buildings in Nairobi. Thirty nine out of the targeted population of fifty two highrise public office buildings were sampled through a stratified random sampling technique in three locations of Nairobi with major concentrations of this category of buildings. Research data was collected through structured questionnaires, interviews and observations. Data was also sourced from review of literature on previous research findings, text books including facts and statistics from the Kenya government. The study established that the existing maintenance framework is inefficient and ineffective and therefore developed an alternative model of maintenance framework that is effective and will in the long run minimize maintenance costs through adoption of cost minimization strategies established from the findings. The model of maintenance framework was developed through adoption of maintenance standards and guidelines established from the study findings. The formulated building maintenance management framework can be applied towards the revitalization of the management of maintenance programmes in both the public and private sector office buildings. The framework can further be applied towards effective conservation of historical buildings.