Factors Influencing Sustainability Of Piped Water Supply In Rural Communities In Kenya: A Case Of Likuyani Sub County, Kakamega County.
Abstract
This study sought to assess factors that influence sustainability of Piped water supply
systems in Likuyani Sub County, Kakamega County. Despite heavy investment in
water supply infrastructure, piped water supply schemes sustainability remains a
challenge to communities in the rural areas as most water supplies fail or stall within
a few years of development owing to several factors. This study sought to address the
following objectives: to examine how management approaches influenced
sustainability of the water projects in the Sub County, to determine the effect of
community participation on sustainability of the projects, to investigate how finances
influence sustainability of the projects and to examine how how technology
influences sustainability of community piped rural water supply projects in Likuyani
Sub County, Kakamega County. The sample size of the study consisted of 180
registered household members of piped water supply schemes and one piped water
supply management committee in focus group discussions. Key informant interview
was carried out with Staff from the sub County Water Office Random sampling
techniques were used to select households. Questionnaires were used to obtain data
from households while interview schedules were used to obtain data from key
informants. Content validity of the data collection instruments was established by
expert judgment. Reliability of the instruments was established through a pre-test.
Descriptive analysis was conducted and presented using frequencies which were
obtained to show distribution of responses. Results have been displayed using tables,.
The findings of this study reveal that sensitization and mobilization of the community
before the project implementation was not done adequately. Community was not
involved in the planning and design of the project. Technologies used in the
implementation of the project were often selected by state implementers without
taking into consideration the cost and availability of spare parts. Communities were
comfortable with the tariffs levied by their water supplies but some were not willing
to pay for the water services as they felt that they were not getting value for their
money because the supply of piped water was neither continuous nor was it
sufficient. The study concludes that community participation at all levels had an
important bearing on the sustainability of the projects as it instills a sense of
ownership. The study recommends adequate funding for piped water supply projects
and involvement of the community in all the phases of the project right from the
planning to operation and maintenance phases as essential determinants of project
sustainability. It further recommends that Public Private Partnership management
model be embraced to enhance the financial and technical sustainability of the piped
water supply schemes.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
- Faculty of Education (FEd) [6020]
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