| dc.description.abstract | Matiliku Division is one of the I6 divisions in Makueni District, which is an Arid and
Semi Arid Land (ASAL). The region suffers from water scarcity. Rainfall is low and
unreliable. The region has experienced the presence of many Non Governmental
Organizations (NGOs) and other External Support Agencies (ESAs) that have engaged in
funding of rural water supply projects. The planning process leading to the
implementation of the water projects in Matiliku Division involved several actors each
with its own role as indicated in the study. The actors included the local community, the
ESAsand/or NGOs and the Government
Even though each actor (partner) played specific role, there was lack of coordination.
Waterbeing a basic necessity for (illY community, the local community had to be coerced
to provide labour during the implementation of the projects. The local administrators
wereinstrumental during the coercion process.
The study .entailed the collection of-two types of data namely, primary and secondary
data. It made use of descriptive survey method and blended it with focused synthesis
based upon available literature. Data collected from the field was analyzed using the
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Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS). The methods of analysis involved both
descriptive and inferential techniques as well as measures of association (correlationregression
analysis).
The study tumid out that the collaboration of the ESAs with the Government was .not
obvious unless where it was absolutely necessary. Such collaboration was evident in
casesoftechnical expertise where one party had knowledge at its disposal while the other
lacked it. Issues of finances were major causes of conflicts between them especially in
procurement of materials. There was no level playing ground fur the various actors hence
conflicts always arose between them.
The study found out that the water supplies had adequate yields that could meet the
present, future and the ultimate water demands up to the years 2009 and 2019. However
water was usually not available. Unreliability of the water supplies was the critical
problem facing the population in the supply area This had led to the populations in the
projects' catchment area to depend on water from other sources that were at fur distances
beyond the stated Government limit. Operation and maintenance problems were major
problems leading to water wastage hence unreliability of the water supplies.
Another revelation from the study is that the future sustainabiiity of the water projects
implemented through the combined efforts of various actors was at stake. The water
projects were not functioning to their capacity, vandalism and wastage were a common
phenomenon. The benefits accrued from the projects were minimum. The projects had
not been extended beyond their first phases. All the above problems are related to the
way the water projects were planned and implemented .
... ~
The study recommends that tne role of the Government and ESAs should no longer be
that of providing but enablers of other actors to succeed. This calls for collaborative
efforts,initiatives and participation of all stakeholders at all the levels in the planning and
implementation process. But of importance is the aspect of having a (common) shared
vision,which should be guided by the legal and policy framework.
The study unveils that the planning process should be continuous and interactive, each
step informing and reinforcing the other and vice versa. For instance though the plan
implementation comes at the end it should be thought of at initial stage and move along
the design stage. Also of importance is that institutional arrangements and procedures
among the ail actors involved in the planning and implementation process of rural water
projects must be well understood and appreciated by all if it is to lead to sustainable
projects. | en |
