Factors influencing completion of irrigation projects in Kenya: a case of national irrigation board projects in Mount Kenya region

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors that influence completion of irrigation projects being implemented by National Irrigation Board, Kenya. A case of various irrigation development projects will be studied. These projects are Muringa Banana irrigation development project, Phase I in Tharaka Nithi County; Muringa Banana irrigation development project, Phase II in Tharaka Nithi County; Kagaari Kyeni Gaturi irrigation development project in Embu County; Mitunguu irrigation scheme development project Phase I in Meru County; Mitunguu irrigation scheme development project Phase II in Meru County, Iraru Irrigation project in Meru county and Rapsu Irrigation development project in Isiolo County. The project intends to analyze how the contractor related factors, cost related factors and the supervision related factors influence completion of irrigation projects. The study used descriptive survey research design and adopted both qualitative and quantitative techniques of data collection and analysis. The study adopted the stratified sampling procedure and census sampling technique to identify the sample size for the study established as 105 respondents. The researcher was able to administer 94 fully completed questionnaires. The researcher was able to conduct 7 key informant interviews construction managers from the 7 irrigation projects. The researcher used descriptive and inferential statistics to analyse the data collected. Measures of central tendency and correlation analysis were used to establish an interaction between the independent and dependent variables. The researcher used tables and interpretations to present the data. The study concludes that cost-related factors are the determinant factors influencing completion of irrigation projects, project supervision was the second most significant factor influencing the completion of irrigation projects and contractor-related factors were the least significant factors influencing completion of irrigation projects. The study recommends that the National Irrigation Board should seek to make the selection criteria for the bidding of irrigation projects to firms that have the technical and human capacity and resources to undertake irrigation projects. This selection should also be based on experience rather than the promotion of local firms, that the National Irrigation Board should adopt stringent measures which would arrest the cost related factors. This also should include less bureaucratic procedures and processes in disbursement of both material and financial resources required by contractors to implement irrigation projects and the National Irrigation Board should strengthen the capacity of supervisory staff involved in irrigation projects. Supervision was found to have the least influence on completion of projects in the study. However, supervision would enhance the identification of trouble areas through spot checks of project implementation activities in order to reduce massive loss of resources and project non-completion.