Influence of participatory development on sustainability of spring protection projects in Bomet central sub-county, Kenya

Abstract

This research sought to examine the influence of participatory development on the sustainability of spring protection projects in Bomet Central Sub-County. The objectives of the study were to examine the extent to which participatory needs assessment influences sustainability of community spring protection projects, to establish the degree to which participatory project design and planning influences sustainability of spring protection projects, to ascertain the extent to which participatory project implementation influences sustainability of spring protection projects and to establish the degree to which participatory monitoring and evaluation influences sustainability of spring protection projects. The study was conducted in Bomet Central SubCounty, Kenya. The study adopted descriptive research design technique. The target population for the study was 586 households that rely on protected springs as their main source of water. A sample size of 232 heads of households was drawn from the target population through systematic random sampling for the study. The data was collected through questionnaires as the main study instrument. The research instrument was tested for validity and reliability before being taken to the field. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 to generate frequency distributions and percentages to assist the researcher in answering the research questions. The data was summarized using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics in form of frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations were presented in form of tables. Pearson correlation coefficients were established to help the researcher draw various conclusions on the relationship between independent and the dependent variable. Inferential statistics indicated that participatory needs assessment had a very strong positive significant relationship (r=.928, p<0.01) with spring project sustainability, it also indicated a very strong positive significant relationship (r =.946, p<0.01) between participatory project planning and design and spring project sustainability. Inferential statistics further portrayed very strong positive significant relationship (r=.948, p<0.01) between participatory project implementation and project sustainability and finally it indicated a very strong positive significant relationship (r=.964, p<0.01) between participatory project monitoring and evaluation and project sustainability. The study therefore concluded participatory involvement of the local community in all the stages of the spring protection project is important in ensuring sustainability of the spring protection projects. Further the researcher recommended that the government and other stakeholders should seek for community engagement to ensure the continuity of the project in the long run.