The Effect Of Community Participation On The Performance Of Namelok Water Project In Kajiado County, Kenya

Abstract

Community participation in water projects is key to the development of the project and its sustainability. To achieve the participation all the local members of a community have to be involved in giving out their opinions, advice on how the projects can be managed and maintained as well as resources such as money and materials. This research was to find out effects of community participation on the performance of water resources with reference to Namelok Water Project in Kajiado County. The concerns of the study were: community leadership, communal capacity building and members perceptions. In the literature review community leadership and water resource management, capacity building and water resource management, household’s perceptions, theoretical framework (community organization model and social capital theory) and finally conceptual framework and operational definitions. The study used qualitative and quantitative research design with a target population of 150 beneficiaries from the community and the Management of the Namelok Water Project. Data was collected through questionnaire while the analysis was done through quantitative and qualitative methods. The findings from the study indicated that community participation was key for the performance of water resource; also community leadership should be encouraged by involving all the members of the community to avoid disagreements on how the beneficiaries can obtain the water and be connected to their households. Financial support should be increased through donor supported programs and ensure that this finances are used appropriately so that it encourages the investors to continue supporting the project. The negative perception of the households can be reduced by offering better services through management of the pipes and connecting the water taps to their households for family consumptions. The study recommends that there is need for management to influence the stakeholders to participate in the projects that have been sponsored for them to see the outcomes of their investments. Therefore all the stakeholders should be involved especially on capacity building through regular training and seminars on water management to all the beneficiaries. Also the level of community participation in project planning and implementation should be increased to enhance the sustainability of the water projects in the county. Finally, there is need for capacity building to be done through training of the stakeholders and the community members to improve on their capacity on management of the project.