FACTORS INFLUENCING CUSTOMER ACCESS TO PIPED WATER AND SANITATION SERVICES IN LOW INCOME URBAN AREAS: A CASE OF MERU TOWN, MERU COUNTY, KENYA
Richard Mwirigi Kiugu - Master of Arts in Project Planning and Management, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Dr. John M. Wanjohi - School of Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi, Kenya
ABSTRACT
A large number of urban residents in sub-Sahara Africa live in slums often characterized by lack of basic services such as water, sewerage and electricity. This is as a result of pressure due population growth, aging infrastructure, climatic change and unsustainable convention water management mostly employed in the region thus posing a huge challenge in managing the unreliable and scarce water resource. Meru Town is not exemption to this phenomenon as in that there are few sanitation facilities and also many people do not access to safe drinking water source. The purpose of this study was to establish the factors that influence customer access to piped water and sanitation services in low income urban areas in Meru Town. The study aimed at determining the influence of; physical parameters, affordability, institutional and structural constraints on customer access to piped water and sanitation services in low income urban areas. The research design used in the study was descriptive research. The target population comprised of 1080 households and 15 staff members of Meru Water and Sewerage Services. The sample size was from two stakeholders namely (i) 105 households and (ii) Purposively sampled 15 staff members of Meru Water and Sewerage Services. To determine the validity and reliability of the interview schedule, a pilot- testing was carried out in a different slum (Kigore) with similar characteristics like those other three. During the field study, information was collected from randomly selected households from three urban poor areas on accessibility and affordability of piped water and sanitation services. The instruments used were questionnaires and interview. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS. The study sought to determine how physical parameters influence customer access to piped water and sanitation services in low-income areas of Meru town. The study was interested in assessing the influence of Cost of water on customer access to piped water and sanitation services in low-income areas of Meru town. The study further sought to find out the influence of institutional constraints on customer access to piped water and sanitation services in low-income areas of Meru town. The study further sought to determine the influence of structural constraints on customer access to piped water and sanitation services in low-income areas of Meru town. The study concluded that physical parameters, and the influence of cost of water positively and significantly influence customer access to piped water and sanitation services in low-income areas of Meru town. The study further concluded that institutional and structural constraints moderately influence positively and significantly the customer access to piped water and sanitation services in low-income areas of Meru town. The study recommends that water, sanitation and hygiene education programmes should be in place. The study also recommends that community should be sensitized to participate in water supply development needs to be fostered through expression of the demand, the selection of technology and its sitting, the provision of labour and local materials, cash contribution towards project costs and the selection of the management type. The study further recommends that the WSPs should focus on building the capacity of the community on the maintenance of existing water sources.
