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.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Description
Thesis