Continuous Improvement and Performance of Water Projects in Machakos County, Kenya

Abstract

Over the past two decades, national governments, bilateral agencies, and devolved authorities have made significant efforts to improve access to clean and safe water through various national and community-based water projects. To enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of these initiatives, many institutions have integrated continuous improvement strategies into their results-based management frameworks. Despite these efforts, water projects continue to face performance issues, including delays and inefficiencies. This study aims to assess the effect of continuous improvement on the performance of water projects in Machakos County, Kenya. The research employs the pragmatism research paradigm and utilizes both correlational and descriptive cross-sectional survey designs. It focuses on 70 water projects within Machakos County, targeting beneficiaries represented by members of the Water Management Committee, Ministry of Water employees, and project managers. Slovin's Formula was used to determine the sample size, leading to the selection of 216 respondents through stratified random sampling. This sample was divided into three strata: Ministry of Water employees, project managers, and Water Management Committee members.