Title:
FACTORS INFLUENCING IMPLEMENTATION OF WATER PROJECTS IN ARID AND SEMI-ARID AREAS OF KENYA: A SURVEY OF EAST POKOT SUB-COUNTY

Authors:
Wamuga Kenneth Gaitho and Wanyoike Daniel

Abstract:
Grave water shortage in arid and semi-arid areas has raised the concern of government and nongovernmental agencies, both local and foreign. The severe water shortage is occasioned by prolonged drought given that it only rains sporadically. The situation has several times occasioned ethnic conflict among the locals. Various agencies have supported communities with water projects but the projects have not been sustainable. Premised on the foregoing realization, it was imperative to examine the various factors that influence implementation of water projects in arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya with the view of suggesting recommendations which if implemented would alleviate the problems associated with water shortage in the said regions. The objective of the study was to examine the influence of project design on project implementation. The study was guided by the stakeholder theory, and implementation theory. The study adopted a survey research design. The target population comprised of contractors, Sub-County water and irrigation officer, project managers, project supervisors and water management committee members working with water projects in arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya. 219 stakeholders working with the aforesaid water projects in East Pokot Sub-County constituted the accessible population. A sample of 88 respondents calculated using Nassiuma’s formula was drawn from the study population using stratified random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was used in data collection. A pilot study was conducted in order to determine the validity and reliability of the research questionnaire. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences software facilitated data processing and analysis. The study employed both descriptive and inferential statistics in the analysis. The study findings were presented in form of tables. It was found there existed a positive, weak and statistically not significant relationship between project design and project implementation. It was concluded that project design had minimal influence on implementation of water projects. It is recommended that there should be regular project evaluation in order to ensure that various benchmarks in the project implementation are met within given timelines. It is recommended that the water project design should tally with available resources and intended purposes of the project.