Factors Affecting Implementation of Community Projects: Case of Kimira-Oluch Smallholder Farm Improvement Project in Homa Bay County, Kenya

Abstract

This paper assessed the factors affecting implementation of community projects At Kimira-Oluch Smallhaolder Farm Improvement Project (KOSFIP) in Homa Bay County, Kenya. Study objectives included assess the factors causing delay in implementation of KOSFIP project; assess the factors causing escalation of costs in implementing KOSFIP project assess the attitude of the community towards KOSFIP project; and assess the effect of community leadership on implementation of KOSFIP project. A case study research design was used to collect data from 3,000 households in the project's area of coverage. The study established that: natural occurrences such as floods and daily coordination of activities were major causes of delay as supported by 57.9% and 56.2% of the respondents respectively. Similarly, demand for compensation and resettlement, mitigation of floods and inflationary fluctuations were the major factors of cost escalation as supported by 59.6%, 49.7% and 57.5% of the respondents respectively. However, there was minimal interference with project implementation from the community as 93.7% of the respondents felt that community members were not a hindering factor. Finally, there was a weak positive linear relationship between local leaders support for implementation of KOSFIP project and their strong belief in handouts as shown by R = 0.421 and reduction in variations of R2 = 17.8% in implementation of KOSFIP project can be explained by local leaders belief in handouts. Further, the value of t = 5.168 and 6.319 indicates that there was a strong significant positive effect on implementation of KOSFIP project by leaders' belief in handouts. The study is useful to project planners, stakeholders and financiers who are in need of relevant information on factors affecting project implementation. It will also be useful to researchers and scholars who wish to generate more knowledge or fill gaps on implementation of community projects.