Factors Influencing Implementation of Water Infrastructure Projects: a Case of Lapsset Authority, Kenya

Abstract

Governments, NGOs, local and international organizations from all over the globe have implemented water projects to encourage safe rural water supply and sanitation in the past few years. The purpose of this study is to assess the factors influencing implementation of water infrastructure projects a case of LAPSSET Authority, Kenya. The study is guided by the following objectives: To establish the influence of financial feasibility on the implementation of water infrastructure projects a case of LAPSSET Authority, Kenya. To assess the influence of legal procedures on the implementation of water infrastructure projects a case of LAPSSET Authority, Kenya. To review the influence of stakeholder’s engagement on the implementation of water infrastructure projects a case of LAPSSET Authority, Kenya. To assess the influence of project environment on implementation of water infrastructure projects a case of LAPSSET Authority, Kenya. The researcher looked at Financial Distress theory and Stakeholder Theory in the study. This study adopted descriptive research design. The study employed a questionnaire to collect primary data. The researcher dropped the questionnaires at the respondents’ place of work. Validity and reliability of the study was measured. Data was organized mainly by use of inferential and descriptive statistics. Correlation analysis measured the strength of the relationship between the dependent variable and independent variables. From the findings, project environment (M=3.92, p<0.05), stakeholder engagement (M=3.82, p<0.05), financial feasibility (M=3.82, p<0.05) and legal procedures (M=3.80, p<0.05) all have significant effect on implementation of water infrastructure projects a case of LAPSSET Authority, Kenya. The study concludes that projects were audited annually, financial records were timely prepared and periodic budget was used on implementation of projects. LAPSSET Authority acquired for permits before project implementation, followed the funding policies enforced by the government and got licence approvals before implementing a project. LAPSSET had built trust with its stakeholders and considered the interest of the stakeholders. LAPSSET Authority allowed community members to participate in the conception and design of the projects and community members made contribution of cash for implementation of projects. LAPSSET project environment made project implementation to be successful and faster, project environment made it easy for use to follow the policies involved in the project implementation. The study recommends that policy makers should to ensure that their financial records are audited for transparency and accountability. Policy makers should to create a budget enough for project implementation. Policy makers ought to ensure that policies implemented protected the stakeholders. Policy makers should to build trust with its stakeholders and consider the interest of the stakeholders. Management of LAPPSET should to finish the project as per the speculated time, prepare financial reports and avoid misappropriation of funds. The management should to ensure that they had permits before project implementation, followed the funding policies enforced by the government. LAPSSET project environment should to make project implementation to be successful and faster. Project environment should to make it easy for use to follow the policies involved in the project implementation.