Influence of Participatory Project Identification on Community Water Point Projects in Turkana County, Kenya

Abstract

A people-centered participatory development planning process that identifies genuine needs of beneficiaries establishes a sense of local ownership which in turn begets project sustainability. This study sought to investigate the extent to which beneficiaries participate in identification of community water point projects within Turkana Central, in Turkana County. The target population of the study was 24,025 households of Turkana central constituency. Cochran formula with 95% level of confidence and margin of error of 5% was used to determine the sample size of 384 households. Sample selection was done using proportional quota and convenience sampling techniques. The data was collected using observations, focus group discussions, key informants’ interviews, and semi-structured questionnaires guides. Multiple Regression Analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used to analyze quantitative data. Framework Analysis and Narrative Analysis techniques were used to analyze qualitative data. Inter-rater reliability was used to measure the level of consistency of data collection instruments and content test was used to test instrument validity. The findings were tabulated, condensed, analyzed, and inferences drawn. Descriptive statistics were computed, and frequencies, percentages, arithmetic mean, and deviation presented. Pearson’s Moment Correlation (r), multiple regression and stepwise regression (R2), F-tests were used to test the hypothesis. The results indicated that r = 0.859, p = 0.0 ,545. The study concluded that participatory project identification had significant influence on sustainability of community water point projects.