An Investigation of The Factors Influencing Sustainability of Community Water Projects, A Case of Kitui Central Sub-County, Kitui County, Kenya

Abstract

More than a billion people in developing countries were reported to lack access to water daily, implying that water sources were diminishing and reliable sources of clean water remained unavailable to many vulnerable households (UNICEF/UN, 2012). Both the national government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) had invested colossal amounts of donor funds in developing community water projects to address the problem of water accessibility. However, the sustainability of these water projects largely rested in the hands of local communities, often leading to high failure rates of such initiatives (Kenya National Water Development Report, 2006). To enhance the effectiveness of community water projects, it was necessary to empower communities to manage them sustainably, particularly to ensure access to safe drinking water for vulnerable populations. This study carried an investigation on factors that influenced the sustainability of community water projects in Kitui Central Sub-County, Kitui County, and proposed appropriate recommendations for improving sustainability. The study was guided by the following objectives: to identify the water sources in Kitui Central Sub-County; to establish the capacity of household water use in Kitui Centra Sub- County Kitui County; to investigate water management practices that enhance the sustainability of community water projects in Kitui Central Sub- County, Kitui County; and to recommend strategies for sustainable water management. The targeted population was 400 households. The study adopted a descriptive survey design, sampling 400 households/respondents, including five executive members of water management committees, two focus group discussions, five non state actors in the water industry eg parastatals, private entrepreneurs and 5 community water projects run by community management committees research was anchored on the Resource Dependence Theory and the Village Level Operation and Maintenance (VLOM) model. Data was collected using questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS), GIS, and statistical tools available in Microsoft Excel. The findings were expected to benefit policy makers, the Ministry of Water, local consumers, and donor agencies. Based on the findings, both wards relied on boreholes, wells, and rainwater harvesting, with high functionality rates (93% in Mulango and 89% in Kyangwithya), though sustainability was challenged by vandalism, inadequate maintenance, reliance on external actors, and the disproportionate burden of water collection on women and girls, who often spent long hours fetching water using donkeys as the main means of transport (FAO, 2018; Harvey & Reed, 2007; UNICEF & WHO, 2021).The study recommends institutionalizing community participation at all stages of water project development, prioritizing capacity building for local managers and community members, and integrating environmental sustainability through catchment protection, reforestation, and climate-resilient technologies such as solar-powered boreholes and rainwater harvesting. The study also suggested future research should assess long-term sustainability of water systems by examining functionality, governance, external support, environmental impacts, gender dynamics, and policy effectiveness.