Examining Stakeholder Engagement in Water Security Strategy Implementation in Kenya: A Case of Water Resources Authority in Nairobi County

Abstract

The study focused on the growing water insecurity in urban areas like Nairobi, which is driven by rapid urbanization and ineffective stakeholder engagement. It emphasizes that despite substantial investments in water security projects, the lack of structured and sustainable stakeholder involvement hinders the successful implementation and longterm sustainability of water strategies in Kenya. The study explores stakeholder engagement's role in implementing water security strategy at the Water Resources Authority in Nairobi County, Kenya. The specific objectives are to examine the role of stakeholder engagement in water security, to assess water security implementation strategies, and to evaluate the impact of stakeholder engagement in water-security strategy implementation at the Water Resources Authority in Nairobi County. The study is anchored on the World Systems Theory and Stakeholder Theory to understand various stakeholders’ intricate interactions and contributions in water resources management and policy implementation. The study adopted a descriptive research design and targeted 107 employees from the Water Resources Authority (WRA) in Nairobi County, using a census approach to gather comprehensive data from the entire population. A structured questionnaire was used to collect primary quantitative data, and the analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential statistical methods, including correlation and regression. The findings revealed that stakeholder engagement is critical in enhancing water security, with early stakeholder involvement fostering a sense of ownership and aligning strategies with community needs. The second objective showed that while WRA’s communication strategies were effective, there were gaps in addressing specific water security risks, necessitating the refinement of particular strategies. The third objective indicated a moderate positive relationship between stakeholder engagement and the effectiveness of water security strategies, with a low R-squared value of 0.079, suggesting that other factors significantly influence implementation outcomes. Thus, the study concluded that a holistic approach is needed to optimize water security management in Nairobi County. The study concluded that stakeholder engagement is essential for enhancing water security within the WRA in Nairobi County by fostering a sense of ownership and aligning strategies with community needs. However, the study also highlighted that other factors significantly influence the success of water security initiatives, necessitating a comprehensive approach. Based on these findings, it was recommended that WRA strengthen its stakeholder engagement mechanisms, refine its implementation strategies to address specific water risks and explore additional factors influencing water security, including resources availability and governance structures, to optimize water management outcomes