Influence of members participation on performance of irrigation projects in Meru central district, Kenya
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Date
2013Author
Muriithi, Joseph L
Type
ThesisLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
In Kenya, the cycle of funding of irrigation projects followed by collapse or gross
underperformance soon after donors and development partners pull out such as in Bura irrigation
scheme, Kibwezi, Mitunguu and Ciambaraga raises concerns both locally and internationally.
This means that irrigation projects are not making their due contribution to the economy at local
and national level and irrigated agricultural production is not meeting the stipulated target in
growth of Gross Domestic Product. Even though it is generally thought that agricultural projects
perform better when the targeted primary beneficiaries are involved in all stages of the project,
empirical evidence particularly for irrigation projects is not readily available. Therefore the
purpose of this study was to assess the influence of members participation on the performance of
an irrigation project in Meru Central District, Kenya. The study employed a descriptive survey
research design targeting 907 registered members of the 3 members managed Irrigation Projects,
15 executive management committee members and 10 ministry of water and irrigation officials
in the District. A random sample of 269 registered project members was selected from the 907
members of the three irrigation projects in Meru Central District. Primary data was collected
using questionnaires and interview guides. The study found that members’ participation in
selection of management had the greatest influence on the performance of an irrigation project in
Meru Central District (r = 0.984) followed by members’ participation in designing (r = 0.943),
then members’ participation in monitoring and evaluation (r = 0.846), members’ participation in
project identification (r = 0.762) while members’ participation in implementation had the least
effect (r = 0.674). The study concludes that project identification, implementation, monitoring
and evaluation, selection of management and designing at both 1% and 5% level of significance
explain about 60.1% of the variations in performance of irrigation projects in Meru Central
District. The study recommends that participation of members in irrigation projects should be
encouraged to enhance capacity to perceive their own needs. Through participation, local people
identify their needs as well as the relevant goals of a program.
Citation
Master Of Arts In Project Planning And ManagementPublisher
University of Nairobi Faculty of Arts
Collections
- Faculty of Education (FEd) [5964]