Factors Influencing The Management Of Water Hyacinth Weed In Lake Victoria Kisumu County, Kenya

Abstract

Historically, marine transport on the lake, together with the rail network, played a key part on the transportation of cargo and passengers to and from the land-locked countries. Inland shipping on Lake Victoria formed an important component of an intermodal supply chain along the Central and Northern Corridor. This study therefore intended to investigate factors influencing the management of water hyacinth weed in lake Victoria Kisumu County, Kenya. The study was informed by the following objectives; to determine the Influence of Procurement procedures, to examine the Influence of Budgetary allocation, to determine the Influence of Project Manager competencies, to examine the effectiveness of community participation and to establish the Influence of communication management in the management of water hyacinth weed in Lake Victoria Kisumu County. The target population comprised of 130 respondent; 10 Community Elders, 50 Fishermen, 50 fish traders and 20 Project Team Managers .The study adapted a descriptive survey design given that it provided an in-depth analysis of the issue under investigation. Stratified and Purposive random sampling techniques were used to arrive at the sample size of 91.Data was collected through the administering of questionnaire to the respondents. The result of the study revealed that; Procurement Procedure in the management of water hyacinth weed in lake Victoria is important with majority of a mean of 4.41 indicating that bureaucracy in Procurement Process hinders the management of water hyacinth weed in lake Victoria .However, Minority felt that time frame for tendering process and experts to carry out the evaluation were not of a great influence scoring a mean of 3.25 and 3.10 respectively. For the budgetary allocation, the study revealed that appropriate and effective budget was key with a mean of 4.42. However at an average of 1.51 indicated that the budgetary allocations are normally utilized as per the plan and an average of 3.78 indicated that Budget allocation leads to success in the management of water hyacinth weed in lake Victoria. Also, results indicated that the project manager competencies in the management of water hyacinth weed in lake Victoria are important with a mean of 4.37 of the respondents confirmed that is the role of the Project Manager to ensure that projects are delivered on time as per the schedule. Nonetheless, an average of 2.83 affirmed that the level of education does not necessary show the level of competency of the Project Manager. The study also strongly indicated that failure to involve community in the management of water hyacinth weed could lead to a negative influence with a mean of 4.79.However, respondent with a mean of 2.73 indicated that community should not be involved in specific nature of work within the management of water hyacinth weed in lake. The result clearly demonstrated by a mean of 4.36of the respondents that efficient and effective communication leads to error and problem detection within the management of water hyacinth weed. However respondent with a mean of 3.04 were of the Opinion that communication is not key factor to management of water hyacinth weed. This study concluded that reviving of the port operation would not only make the port activities attractive but enhanced economic growth in the regions surrounded by the Lake by easing the movement of goods and services within Kenya and abroad. This can only be achieved through proper and effective management of water hyacinth weed. The study recommends that further research should be done on the ways of managing the hyacinth weed and policy measures that can be strategically developed in order to enhance the management of the weed.