Effect of Transparency on Performance of Water Projects in Kitui South Sub County, Kenya

Abstract

The study examined the effect of transparency on performance of water projects in Kitui South Sub County, Kenya. Transparency has increasingly been recognized as a fundamental pillar of good governance and a key determinant of sustainable service delivery, particularly in community-based water projects, where access to information, openness in financial management and clarity in decision-making significantly influence project effectiveness and long-term sustainability. The study was anchored on Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation Theory, which emphasizes meaningful citizen engagement and access to information as essential components of participatory governance. A mixed-methods approach based on a convergent parallel research design was employed, allowing for simultaneous collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. The target population of 308 stakeholders involved in water project governance, including county water officials, water committee members, technical operators and community representatives. A sample size of 174 (10 interviews & 164 questionnaires) respondents, with questionnaires response rate of 162 out of 164 valid responses yielding a response rate of 98.8%. Data were collected using questionnaires and key informant interview guide. Analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistics, for quantitative data while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The findings revealed that transparency had a strong positive and statistically significant relationship with performance of water projects (r = 0.612, p < 0.001). Qualitative findings further indicated that openness in financial reporting, procurement procedures and project progress communication significantly enhanced accountability, strengthened community trust and reduced conflicts among stakeholders. The study concludes that transparency is a critical determinant of water projects performance and sustainability in Kenya’s Kitui South Sub County. We recommend strengthening transparency mechanisms through mandatory public disclosure of financial records, institutionalized community accountability forums (barazas) and digitalization of water revenue tracking systems to enhance efficiency and trust in water governance.