Women Inclusion, Technical Support, Funds and Maintenance of Handpump Operated Boreholes: Case of Kitui South Sub-County
Abstract
Women are half of the community and they are key participants in successful projects. Involving women has also a positive impact on their position in the community. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of inclusion of women in water users’ committees on level maintenance of hand-pump operated boreholes in Kitui South Sub-county. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The target population consisted of the executive leadership of WUCs which includes chairperson, treasurer, and secretary. The population was grouped into: executive WUC officials and non-office-holder WUC members. Since the ratio of executive WUC members to non-office-holder members is 1:2, out of five executive officials (5) and at least ten (10) non-office-holder members, the researcher sampled one executive official and two committee members were picked from every ward summing the respondents to 296. Data was collected by use of questionnaire administered through drop-and pick later method. Variables data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. A multiple regression model was used to determine the effect of women inclusion in water users’ committees on maintenance of hand pump operated boreholes. Regression analysis was used to establish the relative significance of each of the variables on the effect of gender composition, community participation, technical Support and maintenance funds on maintenance of hand pump operated boreholes. The study found that maintenance of hand pump operated Kitui South Sub County was being influenced though differently by gender composition, community participation, technical support and maintenance funds. Community members are involved in project site identification, project implementation and community participation supports in project efficiency. The study concluded that maintenance of the hand pump operated boreholes could be achieved through women inclusion in the identification, design and implementation of the water projects, enhancing the level of community participation, developing programmes that addressed technical support of the community water management committees in terms of technical and managerial aspects, and developing sustainable financing strategies for operations and maintenance of the hand pump operated boreholes in Kitui South Sub County. The study made recommendations that policy makers should also formulate policies to address financing of operations and maintenance of community water projects as the study shows that majority of the respondents indicated that there was no financial support for operations and maintenance. The ministry of Agriculture, Water and Livestock Development should factor in its annual budgets capacity building funds for committees managing community based water project committees to enhance sustainability of these projects. It is recommended that choice of technical support to be used in hand pump operated boreholes be based on maintenance costs, availability of spare parts and technical expertise required for maintenance of these boreholes. This should be regulated by the ministry in charge of water resources.
Key Words: Women Inclusion, Community Participation, Technical Support & Maintenance Funds.
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