Factors influencing implementation of health projects in Garbatula Sub-county, Isiolo County, Kenya

Abstract

Project implementation consists of challenging processes in the project management plan to satisfy the project specifications. This involves coordinating people and resources, as well as integrating and performing the activities of the project in accordance with the project management plan. The study established the factors influencing implementation of health projects in Garbatula Sub-County, Isiolo County. The study was guided by the following objectives; to examine how stakeholder involvement, budgetary allocation, project management and project monitoring influence implementation of health projects in Garbatula Sub-County, Isiolo County. The study was grounded on the empowerment theory which is supported by the public participation theory. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population for this study composed of the 268 stakeholders in Garbatula Sub- County, Isiolo County. A sample population of 158 was arrived at by calculating the target population of 268 with a 95% confidence level and an error of 0.05 using the below formula taken from Kothari (2004). The study selected the respondents using stratified proportionate random sampling technique. Primary data was obtained using self-administered questionnaires. Primary data was gathered directly from respondents and for this study, the researcher administered the questionnaire personally to the respondents. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The qualitative data from the open-ended questions was analyzed using conceptual content analysis and presented in prose. Inferential data analysis was done using multiple regression analysis. The findings were presented in frequency tables. The study findings were also used by the government and particularly the County more so in implementation of government health projects. The study found that project monitoring had the greatest effect on the implementation of health projects, followed by stakeholder involvement, then budgetary allocation while project management had the least effect to the implementation of health projects in Garbatula Sub-County, Isiolo County. The study recommends that the county government should adopt an effective stakeholder mobilization strategy that help build collaborations with other health sector players like NGO’s, CBOs and private companies for the realization of health goals in Kenya through devolved units, that the project management should engages the stakeholders more to harmonize its goals and objectives with the aspirations of the stakeholders and reduce dissonance levels thereby increasing satisfaction, that county government should improve integrated communications plan to improve project implementation and that management in health projects in Garbatula sub-county should ensure that they employ and deploy qualified and competent individuals for project monitoring process.