Influence of Monitoring and Evaluation Practices on the Implementation of County Governments’ Infrastructural Development Projects in Marsabit County, Kenya

Abstract

Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of projects improves overall efficiency of project planning, management and implementation and therefore various projects are started with the sole goal of changing positively the sociopolitical and economic status of the residents of a given region. Quality execution of infrastructural projects, programmes and initiatives is lacking in the county, leading to projects that have minimal impacts to the livelihood of the residents. The County Government of Marsabit has many development projects that failed to reach targeted impacts due to weak design and implementation and limited data for proper planning. Infrastructural development project supervision especially on roads and other infrastructures are weak, leading to poor workmanship. Little has been done or no research in deeper details that has been done to investigate the influence of the M&E on the implementation of county government infrastructural development projects success in Marsabit County. The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of monitoring and evaluation on the implementation of county governments’ infrastructural development projects in Marsabit County. Four research objectives guided the study. The objectives sought to establish the influence of M&E baseline surveys, M&E planning, management participation in M&E and technical expertise in M&E on the implementation of county governments’ infrastructural development projects in Marsabit County. The study was carried out using descriptive research survey design. The sample was 165 personnel. Data was collected using questionnaires and was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed no correlation between M&E baseline surveys, M&E planning, management participation and technical expertise in M&E on the implementation of development projects. Based on the findings it was concluded that infrastructural project implementation was not influenced by M&E baseline surveys. The study also concluded that M&E planning did not influence infrastructural projects implementation. The study also concluded that management participation in M&E did not positively influence infrastructural projects implementation. The study lastly concluded that technical expertise in M&E did not have an influence on the implementation of development projects. The study recommended that the county government should enhance M&E baseline surveys so as to scale up infrastructural project implementation. The study also recommended that there should be M&E planning done by the county government. The study also recommended that there should be proper management participation in all levels of project implementation. The study also recommended that the county government should be technical expertise in M&E and infrastructural projects implementation. The study suggested that a study on influence of stakeholder participation on the implementation of development projects in other counties should be conducted. It was also suggested that a study on influence of personnel characteristics on the implementation of development projects and a study on influence of national government infrastructural policies on the implementation of development projects should be conducted.