Water Resource Management Tools, Monitoring and Evaluation and Sustainability of Projects in Nyangores River Sub-catchment Basin in Bomet County, Kenya

Abstract

Water resources can be successfully managed only if the natural, social, economic and political environments, in which water occurs and used, are taken fully into consideration, coupled with regular monitoring and evaluation. Integrated basin management approach has been applied in Nyangores River sub-catchment basin since the year 2009 but with minimal success. Sub catchment degradation, organizational weakness, the flow and quality of water had started to diminish, creating challenges for local livelihoods, wildlife in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, and failure to sustain biodiversity and healthy ecosystem functioning. The study intended to make significant contribution towards the management of projects in a river basin that raise the sustainability of the sub-catchment. The study aimed to establish the influence of water resource management tools, Monitoring and Evaluation on the sustainability of projects in Nyangores River Sub-Catchment Basin. The objectives of the study were; to establish the extent to which enabling environment influence sustainability of projects in Nyangores River sub-catchment Basin, to determine the extent to which institutional structures influence sustainability of projects, to examine the extent to which management instruments influence sustainability of projects, to establish the extent to which infrastructure development influence sustainability of projects, to examine the combined influence of water resource management tools on sustainability of projects, how Monitoring and Evaluation influence the sustainability of projects in Nyangores river subcatchment basin and to determine the moderating influence of monitoring and evaluation on the relationship between water resource management tools and sustainability of projects in Nyangores River subcatchment Basin. The research designs used were descriptive survey and correlational research design. The sample size was 381, from a targeted a population of 56508 household heads. Questionnaires, Interview guide and document analysis were used for data collection. Stepwise and purposive sampling formed the sampling procedure. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the analysis of the data. For parametric data, stepwise regression was used. Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient were used to analyze the linear relationship between independent variables and dependent variables. The results are presented descriptively using Tables. For qualitative data, narrative statements were used. All the null hypotheses were rejected at p=0.000<0.05 and the conclusion was that there is a significant relationship between each of the independent variables, and sustainability of projects in Nyangores river sub-catchment basin. Recommendations are; ensure a stringent policy for robust planning and management, and more robust forum for the stakeholders to complement the efforts of WRUA. It is suggested for further research, similar studies are done for the other adjacent river basins and to investigate ways of raising the level of community participation in the basin.