PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND SUSTAINABILITY OF WATER AND SANITATION PROJECTS IN NYERI COUNTY, KENYA
Kamau D. G. - Masters of Business Administration, Kenyatta University, Kenya
Dr. Mungai J. N. - School of Business, Department of Business Administration, Kenyatta University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
The perceived success in project implementation is more adequately defined as meeting the project’s technical specification or mission while at the same time attaining a high level of satisfaction on the part of the community, clients, users and the project team. This means that parties associated with and affected by a project should be satisfied at the same time that the good cost and schedule performances are realized. This study intended to establish effect of project implementation on project sustainability of water and sanitation projects in Nyeri County. Water and sanitation provision coverage has remained low even with continued investment by the Government and donor agencies in the sector through various projects. Water Services Regulatory Board through its annual reports on water and sanitation provision status has queried the disparity between the amount of investment towards water and sanitation projects and the corresponding rate of growth in the service coverage. The study sought to determine effect of project implementation on sustainability of water and sanitation projects in Nyeri County through various variables. These are technical capacity, government support, and project funding and community participation. The study was guided by McKinsey 7s model, Porter’s value chain mode, Mintberg’s organizational model and Theory of change theories. The target population consisted of 94 members of the community made up of managers of water service providers, administrative and community leaders. A sample size of 40% of the target population was drawn. Stratified random sampling design was adopted to select the respondents. The study used a cross sectional descriptive survey research design using quantitative approach to data collection, analysis and reporting through some elements of qualitative approach to data. Data was collected using questionnaires and analyzed quantitatively with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Analysis of results indicated below standard levels of sustainability of water and sanitation projects as indicated by water quality and operations and maintenance cost coverage. However, the hours of water supply as a dimension of sustainability was found to be within the benchmark standards set by regulators. Regression analysis results indicated that technical capacity, project funding, community participation and government support all have a positive and statistically significant effect on sustainability of water and sanitation projects in Nyeri County, Kenya. The study recommends that project management teams device ways to upscale the quality of water supplied and operations and costs coverage which was poor. As project funding was found to be the most significant determinant of sustainability of water and sanitation projects, the study recommends that more funds be channelled to projects timing of disbursements enhanced.
