Performance of Non-State Actors in Provision of Water Services in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas: A case of Kyuso Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

The study on performance of Non-State actors in provision of water services in arid and semi-arid areas was undertaken in Kyuso Sub-county, Kenya. Data on the performance of Non-State actors including their contribution to water service provision, challenges and measures to improve their performance was collected between January 2020 and December 2020. Questionnaire survey and interview schedules were used to collect data from households, managers of the Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and County government officials. Data collected was analysed using SPSS and Excel software to reveal the trends in water service provision by Non-State actors. The results indicated that Non-State actors have greatly reduced the distance that residents have to travel to access water in the study area to about a kilometre. The study also established that Non-State actors were facing several challenges including poor management structures, poor water infrastructure, low rainfall, inadequate water storage facilities, high water connection fee and vandalism of infrastructure. To mitigate these challenges, the study recommended that the Non-State actors should improve structures of public participation, invest in training the managers of the projects and improve their water storage facilities. The County government should also ensure that there is adequate and frequent supply of water through the Kiambere-Mwingi water pipeline that some of the Non-State actors rely on to supply water to the residents.

Keywords: Non-State actors, water service provision, Kyuso Sub-County, Water Access

DOI: 10.7176/JEES/11-11-05

Publication date: November 30^th 2021