FACTORS INFLUENCING SUSTAINABILITY OF RURAL WATER PROJECTS IN ISIOLO COUNTY, KENYA
Mercy Wacheke Muraya - Master of Arts in Project Planning and Management, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Prof. Charles M. Rambo - Department of Open Distance Learning, University of Nairobi, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Sustainability of rural water projects continues to remain a challenge for both donors and the county governments with the value for investment involved being hard to realize. Report from Isiolo County Water Office shows that about 75% of water projects developed in Chumvyelle stalled a few years after commissioning. Efforts have been made to address this issue but with very minimal success leaving one to wonder whether the problem lies with the government, donor or the community. The study established the factors influencing sustainability of rural water project based in Chumvyelle, Isiolo County, Kenya. The study was guided by the following specific objectives: to determine influence of community participation on sustainability of rural water projects in Isiolo County; to examine the influence of management skills on sustainability of rural water projects in Isiolo County; to assess the influence of information technology on sustainability of rural water project in Isiolo County; to establish the influence of cultural practices of the community on sustainability of rural water project in Isiolo County. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The target population of the study comprised of 230. Stratified random sampling was applied to select the sample size of the study. A sample population of 67 was arrived at by calculating the target population of 230 with a 95% confidence level and an error of 0.05 using the below formula taken from Kothari (2014). The researcher collected data using questionnaires. The analysis of the collected data was done using SPSS (25.0) software. The data was edited, coded and classified so as to present the results of the data analysis in a systematic and clear way. Quantitative data collected was analyzed by the use of descriptive statistics and presented through percentages, means, standard deviations and frequencies. The data was presented in Tables. The study found that community participation largely affects the sustainability of rural water projects. The study further revealed that community involvement in water projects ensures that proposed development better target people’s needs. The study found that that community members are involved in decision making process of water projects in their county. The study concludes that community participation had the greatest influence on sustainability of rural water projects in Isiolo County, Kenya followed by cultural practices, then management skills while information systems had the least influence on the sustainability of rural water projects in Isiolo County, Kenya. The study recommends that project designers should make a provision for community participation right from the start of the project. The study further recommends that skilled water management committees are important to attaining sustainability of rural water projects. The study also recommends that training of residents on water sustainability and maintenance of water sources should be reinforced.
