Influence of Community Based Structures on Sustainability of Water Projects: a Case of Borehole Projects in Makueni County, Kenya

Abstract

For sustainability of water projects in both rural and urban areas in Kenya, community involvement is paramount. Rural populations are the most disadvantaged when it comes to coverage of water and sanitation services. This study investigated the influence of community-based structures on sustainability of community-based water projects in Kenya, focusing on Makueni County. Four objectives of the study: to determine the influence of community-based structure in project identification; to examine the influence of community-based structure in project planning; to determine the influence of community-based structure in project implementation and to assess the influence of community-based structure in project monitoring and evaluation on the sustainability of community-based water projects in Makueni County. Systems theory was used in this study. This study adopted a descriptive survey research design and employed a cross-sectional approach in analyzing quantitative data collected using close ended questionnaires. The total target population was 980 beneficiaries of borehole water projects in Makueni County. By use of Yamane formula and stratified random sampling, a sample of 285 respondents was selected. A questionnaire targeting management committee members who are also beneficiaries was administered to the respondents. An interview guide was used to collect qualitative data from chairpersons of county water service providers in Makueni County. Data analysis was achieved through use of descriptive statistics and content approaches. The descriptive analysis entailed both the mean and the standard deviations. The results were presented in tables followed by pertinent interpretation and discussion. The findings revealed that the independent variables used (community-based structures in project identification, community-based structures in project planning, community-based structures in project implementation, community-based structures in project monitoring and evaluation) were satisfactory variables in explaining the sustainability of borehole water projects in Kenya's Makueni County. The results revealed that the R-Squared was 0.697, implying that that community-based structures in project identification, community-based structures in project planning, community-based structures in project implementation, community-based structures in project monitoring and evaluation jointly explained 69.7% of the variations in sustainability of borehole water projects in Kenya's Makueni County. The findings also revealed that community-based structures in project identification had a positive and significant influence on the sustainability of borehole water projects in Makueni County (β =.190, p=.001<.05), community-based structures in project planning had a positive and significant influence on the Sustainability of Borehole Water Projects in Makueni County (β =.244, p=.000<.05), community-based structures in project implementation had a positive and significant influence on the sustainability of borehole water projects in Makueni County (β =.285, p=.000<.05). Finally, the results showed that community-based structures in project monitoring and evaluation had a positive and significant influence on the sustainability of borehole water projects in Makueni County (β =.249, p=.000<.05). The study concluded that residents of Makueni participated in project identification and thus positively influenced water project sustainability in Makueni County as both correlation analysis and descriptive analysis were in agreement. The study also concludes that the local people are involved in stating their problems, suggesting remedies, setting priorities and articulating project interventions. The study also concluded that there is a big difference between project implementers coming with certain interventions and involving the community in decisions that does not change in a big way what exists and where the people are involved in every aspect of the project, from determining the issues to providing solutions. The study recommended that there is need for the County and national government to formulate suitable and relevant policies that will ensure that communities are involved in projects to ensure sustainability. Policies need to cover aspects of planning, identification, resource mobilization and oversight.