Governance Practices and Sustainability of Water Projects in Turkana County, Kenya

Abstract

Existing evidence in literature reveals lack of a compelling vision of Governance practices in Sustainability of Water Projects. It is against this background that this research is founded. Turkana County rates among the poorest and the largest in Kenya despite considerable infusion of capital from the County Development Fund, Constituency Development Fund, Faith Based Organizations and donors that have invested to enhance water accessibility. The literature review on Sustainability of Water Projects would present the procurement reform, participatory approach, oversight, access to information and feedback. This research project did establish the Governance Practices and Sustainability of Water Projects in Turkana County, Kenya, and it was guided by the following objectives; To explore the effects of transparency practices on Sustainability of Water Projects in Turkana South Sub County; To establish the effects of accountability practices on Sustainability of Water Projects in Turkana South Sub County; To determine the effects of efficiency practices on Sustainability of Water Projects in Turkana South Sub County; To access the effects of equity practices on Sustainability of Water Projects in Turkana South Sub County. This study did adopt a descriptive design and the population for the study comprised of 279 individuals from various departments of Turkana County Government and 13 key informants. The sample of the population was grouped as per ministries or departments thus cluster sampling techniques was used to select the representative of the target population while key informants was selected through the purposive sampling techniques. This research project did utilize the semi-structured questionnaire and interviews and, the validity of this study was content evidence that tends to measure the content of trait, which the researcher wishes to establish. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics where findings are represented in the frequency and percentages while qualitative data was analysed through the content analysis. The relationship between independent and the dependent variables was established using the regression analysis. The study found that the ministry or departments have frameworks, policies and systems on governance practices of water projects. The study found that transparency practices are not fully utilized in the water projects which therefore affect sustainability of water projects. With the regression model showed that the level of transparency contributes to 19.3%-unit value of sustainability of water projects. The study established that accountability aspects are not fully utilized which makes water projects to suffer from sustainability problems and challenges. The multiple regression findings showed that level of accountancy practices contributes to 10.1%-unit value of sustainability of water projects. Efficiency in water projects is achieved this has affected the sustainability of some of the water projects positively. Multiple regression analysis finding showed that level of efficiency practices contributes to 25.1%-unit value of sustainability of water projects. Equity practices is practiced by the projects and it affect positively sustainability of water projects. The multiple regression model showed that the level of equity practices contributes to 45.3%-unit value of sustainability of water projects. In conclusion, governance practices affect the sustainability of water projects This means that governance practices contribute to 90.8% of the sustainability of water projects. The study recommends that enforcement, and trainings need to be conducted to ensure governance practices are duly followed in ensuring sustainability of water and other projects in our Kenyan Counties.