Influence of strategic water management practices on reliable water supply in kenya: A case of Nanyuki Water and Sewerage company

Abstract

Water is connected to every forms of life on earth. As criteria, an adequate, reliable, clean, accessible, acceptable and safe drinking water supply has to be available for various users. For Nanyuki Water and Sewerage Company, the company continues to struggle with the provision of water, with demand largely outstripping supply capability of the company, which has led to instance whereby the company has resorted to rationing of water to its customers. In this regard, the general objective of the study was to examine influence of strategic water management practices on reliable water supply in Kenya: a case of Nanyuki Water and Sewage Company in Nanyuki town, Laikipia County, Kenya. The study utilized a descriptive survey design and targeted 283 full time and casual employees of Nanyuki Water and Sewerage Company from Yamame’s proportional sampling technique formula was used to get a sample size of 165 respondents. Data for this study was collected using structured questionnaires. The results were presented using graphs, frequency tables and percentages. A total of 165 questionnaires were dispatched in the field for data collection and 103 questionnaires were returned fully filled, depicting a response rate of 62.4% which is good for generalizability of the research findings to a wider population. Both descriptive and inferential statistics revealed that all conceptualized independent variables (management innovation changes, communication capability, key stakeholder involvement and financial resource allocations) significantly influenced reliable water supply in Nanyuki town (dependent variable). The study concludes that one, relevant management innovation changes in the running of Nanyuki Water and Sewage Company can really boost reliability of water supply in Nanyuki town; secondly, real time communication capabilities by Nanyuki Water and Sewage Company can appropriately address customer needs through a suitable customer feedback mechanism and thirdly, key stakeholder involvement by Nanyuki Water and Sewage Company helps bring all concerned parties on board so as to address all pertinent issues that can affects reliability of water supply in Nanyuki town. The study recommends that one, managers of Nanyuki Water and Sewage Company should engage in innovative management changes meant to address dynamic changes that affect reliable water supply in Nanyuki town, secondly, managers of Nanyuki Water and Sewage Company should roll out swift customer communication feedback mechanism meant to address all complaints from residents of Nanyuki town, and thirdly, managers of Nanyuki Water and Sewage Company should identify and engage key stakeholders that can support the company in efficient and reliable water service provision to residents of Nanyuki town. Another study can be done with focus on Nanyuki town residents so as to capture reliability of water supply as perceived by the residents and not the water service companies.