Project Planning and Performance of Livestock Commercialization Projects in Kenya

Abstract

The performance of livestock commercialization projects plays a critical role in enhancing food security, boosting rural incomes, and driving economic growth in Kenya. Despite the livestock sector’s substantial contribution to livelihoods and agricultural GDP, numerous donor- and government-supported initiatives have faced delays, unmet targets, and limited sustainability. For example, the Smallholder Dairy Commercialization Program did not achieve its household and group objectives, largely due to inadequate planning, logistical inefficiencies, and weak coordination.  This study therefore examined the influence of project planning on the performance of livestock commercialization projects, focusing on the Kenya Livestock Commercialization Project (KeLCoP). The study was anchored on transformational leadership theory. A descriptive survey design was adopted, targeting 56 staff members drawn from the Project Management and Coordination Unit (PMCU) and County Project Management and Coordination Units (CPMCUs) across 10 counties. The results revealed a significant relationship between project planning and performance of livestock commercialization projects (r = 0.806, p = 0.000). The coefficient of determination was R²=0.650, hence project planning accounted for 65% variation in project performance. The results establishes that performance of livestock commercialization projects is influenced by project planning. The study concludes that effective and well-coordinated project planning is a key driver of performance in livestock commercialization projects. By shaping how resources, time, and human efforts are managed, planning emerges as a decisive factor in achieving meaningful and sustainable project outcomes. The study recommends that the State Department of Livestock Development and county livestock departments adopt comprehensive and structured planning to enhance efficiency, minimize delays, and improve the performance of commercialization projects.