EFFECTS OF DEVOLUTION ON ACCESS TO WATER IN ARID AND SEMI-ARID AREAS OF KENYA: CASE OF WAJIR COUNTY
Ahmed Alas Daud - Master of Public Policy and Administration, Kenyatta University, Kenya
Dr. Patrick Mbataru - Department of Public Policy and Administration, Kenyatta University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
The promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 heralded a new dawn by giving Kenyans the opportunity to have a greater say in governance. With the devolution of governance system prominently featuring in Chapter 11 of the constitution, the government of Kenya decentralized the functions contained in the Fourth Schedule to counties. Among these functions is the responsibility to provide water services. Consequently, the mandate of water service provision was devolved to the County Government of Wajir, since it was among the forty-seven counties of Kenya. Since the establishment of devolved system of governance, some interventions had been made in the water sector. However, the effects these interventions on access to water are still unknown. This study therefore aimed at assessing the effects of devolution on access to water in arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya with a focus in Wajir County. In particular, this study sought to establish the effect of resource allocation by county government, collaboration of national and county governments and technology adoption on access to water in Wajir County. The theory of fiscal decentralization formed the foundation of this study. To undertake this, a descriptive survey research design was used. The study targeted 88,574 households in Wajir County as per the Kenya Population and Housing Census, 2009 as representatives of water users and 5 county water management officials based at the county headquarters. Simple random sampling was used to select the water users while a census of all the water management officials was undertaken. The study used primary data obtained using semi-structured questionnaires. Data was analyzed using quantitative methods where the data obtained from the open ended questions was organized in to themes and simple summaries obtained. Frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations were used in describing the quantitative data obtained. Inferential statistics particularly Pearson’s correlation coefficients and regression coefficients were also extracted. A multiple linear regression model was used to show the link between devolution and water access in Wajir County. The study found that resource allocation by county government, collaboration between the county and national government and technology adoption by county government positively and significantly affected access to water in arid and semi-arid areas in Kenya particularly Wajir County. Resource allocation by county government had the largest effect on access to water in the county. The study concluded that devolution had transformed the level of water access by households in arid and semi-arid areas in Kenya particularly Wajir County. The study also concluded that resource allocation, collaboration between the county and national government as well as technology adoption by county government were major channels through which access to water by households in counties was enhanced. The study concluded that effective devolution of water services would greatly enhance the level of water access in arid and semi-arid areas Kenya though supplementary efforts by the national government in water investments in these areas could not be ignored. Several recommendations were drawn based on the study findings as highlighted in chapter five.
