Sustainability Of Water, Sanitation And Health Projects Implemented By African Medical And Research Foundation In Nairobi City County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

Sustainability of community based and managed water sanitation and health projects in Kenya

remains a challenge. In spite of efforts to improve ownership of water sanitation and health

projects to the communities for which they were intended, a large number of water, sanitation

and health projects fail within three years of initiation. The broad objective of this research was

to investigate the factors influencing sustainability of water sanitation and health projects

implemented by AMREF in Nairobi County-Kenya. The following specific objectives were

addressed; to determine the extent to which stakeholder involvement affect sustainability of

water sanitation and health projects, to examine how technical expertise affect sustainability of

water sanitation and health projects, to find out the extent to which funds utilization affect

sustainability of water sanitation and health projects and to investigate the extent to which

political factors affect sustainability of water sanitation and health projects implemented by

AMREF in Nairobi County, Kenya. A descriptive sample survey was used to describe the

findings on water sanitation and health projects as they are on the ground without bias in selected

households in Kibera slums in Nairobi County. A target population of 10,515 respondents was

targeted and this included AMREF staff and household beneficiaries. The study adopted

Cochran’s (1963) formula to select a sample size for the study. Data was collected by the use of

a semi-structured questionnaire. The questionnaires were pre-tested on the committee members

and households to establish validity. The questionnaire was checked to ensure completeness and

correctly filled. All questionnaires were coded so that all data can be analyzed by using the

Statistical Package for Social Scientists computer programme. Data was analyzed using

descriptive statistics including figures and tables. The results were presented by using frequency

tables and figures for ease of reference. In addition, advance statistical techniques (inferential

statistics) was considered. To quantify the strength of the relationship between the variables the

researcher conducted a multiple regression analysis so as to evaluate the sustainability of water

sanitation and health projects. The study concludes that there is a significant positive influence of

community participation, technical expertise, funds utilization and political factors on

sustainability of water sanitation and health projects. The study therefore recommends that the

policy makers should ensure that the policies are favourable to the private sectors to make them

have the will to participate in the project. The study also recommends that all the staff should be

frequently trained to acquire the right skill to enhance expertise in execution of responsibilities.

The research suggests that the same studies should be conducted on the other parts of the country

to enhance better sustainability of water sanitation and health projects in all parts of the country.