Monitoring and Evaluation Practices and Performance of Water Projects in Nyeri County, Kenya

Abstract: Reliable and safe water is a critical component of social welfare, economic development, and environmental sustainability in Kenya. Despite continued investments in water infrastructure, many projects in Nyeri County face persistent challenges related to poor performance, inefficiency, and limited sustainability. Numerous water projects in the region encounter recurrent implementation and operational obstacles, resulting in minimal achievement of intended outcomes. While theory suggests that robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems enhance project performance, empirical evidence remains inconclusive. This study examined the impact of M&E practices on the performance of water projects in Nyeri County, with a focus on staff capacity building, stakeholder engagement, M&E planning, and resource allocation. The research was grounded in the Performance Prism Theory and Stakeholder Theory and employed a descriptive research design. The target population comprised 82 water projects implemented between 2019 and 2023. Using proportionate stratified sampling, 230 respondents were selected, including project engineers, managers, procurement officers, fund administrators, and community beneficiaries. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, and reliability and validity were ensured via expert review. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Findings revealed that effective M&E practices positively and significantly influenced project performance. Among the variables examined, stakeholder engagement emerged as the strongest determinant of project success, followed by comprehensive M&E planning and the enhancement of staff capacities. The study concludes that coordinated M&E systems, strengthened stakeholder mobilization, ongoing capacity-building initiatives, and equitable resource allocation are essential for improving the sustainability and effectiveness of water projects in Nyeri County. Keywords: Monitoring and Evaluation, Water Project Performance, Stakeholder Engagement, Resource Allocation, Capacity Building. Title: Monitoring and Evaluation Practices and Performance of Water Projects in Nyeri County, Kenya Author: Loise Wakarima Maina, Lucy Ngugi International Journal of Management and Commerce Innovations ISSN 2348-7585 (Online) Vol. 13, Issue 2, October 2025 - March 2026 Page No: 741-752 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 11-March-2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18954974 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/monitoring-and-evaluation-practices-and-performance-of-water-projects-in-nyeri-county-kenya