Factors Influencing Sustainability of Donor Funded Water Projects in Kenya; a Case of Turkwel Ward, Lorugum Location, Turkana County, Kenya

Abstract

The Study investigated factors influencing sustainability of donor funded water projects in Turkwel Ward Lorugum Location, in Turkana County Kenya. Specifically, the study focuses on the following objectives: to determine how adoption of technology, governance structures and community participation influence sustainability of DFWP . The study was anchored on Outcome and Systems Theory. The study focused on two solar powered boreholes that meant to serve residents of Lorugum Location, its institutions and surrounding locality. The study adopted descriptive survey research design that was convenient based on the its nature. The target population was 188, that is 179 local households, Ministry of water officer’s hydrologist, engineer, Hydrologist, Water Users Association Member, NGO representative, WASH officer, County Government of Turkana representative and a representative from the Catholic Dioceses of Lodwar. The sample size of this study was determined by applying Yammane formula, which was 128. According to this formula 119 households were sampled using stratified sampling while the rest were purposively sampled. The research instruments used for data collection is questionnaires, and Interviews guide for local households and others respectively. A pilot study was conducted in the same area, but on other respondents and it tested the validity and reliability of research instruments. Qualitative data was collected by holding face-to-face interviews with Data was collected respondents’ others than local households while quantitative data was collected by administering questionnaires. SPSS version 22 software was used to analyse data while thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. From the findings, 71.5% of respondents indicated that training had less influence on the sustainability of donor funded water projects. According to 55.5% and 10% of respondents, community and volunteer took part in repairs and maintenance respectively. Further, 84.9% of the respondents stated that it takes over two years for the technology adopted to influence sustainability of DFWP. Regarding governance, 89.1% of the respondents observed that they their water association adopted democratic management style. The frequency of meetings for members of water user’s association was low, 34.5% respondents noted. Local household’s financial contribution ability to project activities was pegged at 40.3% and 21.8% low and poor respectively. The frequency of holding project meetings was rated at 52.9% and 36.1% fair and poor respectively. Based on the findings, it was recommended that community sensitization and education should be conducted to change the attitude of locals, the level of education, knowledge and skills relevant to DFWP should be improved. The community should fully own and participate in project activities.