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ADMINISTRATION OF DEVOLVED WATER SERVICES, TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP, PLANNING AND WATER PROVISION IN ARID AND SEMI-ARID LANDS IN KENYA

The Government of Kenya introduced Sessional Paper no 10 in 1965 that stated that for the economy to grow as a whole and as fast as possible, development money should be invested where it will yield the largest increase in net output. It further stated that this approach favored development of areas with abundant natural resources, good land and rainfall, transport and power facilities and people receptive to and active in development. For many years, this statement guided direction of government resources hence neglecting ASAL areas. Even though, and with promulgation of Constitution (2010), Kenya as a water scarce country did devolve water provision to counties, the question of whether administration of devolved water services has assisted in solving challenges related to water provision as desired and anticipated by target six (6) of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as Kenya’s Vision 2030 still remain unresolved. The purpose of this study was therefore to establish the role of administration of devolved water services, transformational leadership and planning on water provision in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands in Kenya. Specifically, the study determined the effect of administration of devolved water services, analyzed the moderating effect of transformational leadership on the relationship between administration of devolved water services and water provision, assessed the moderating effect of planning on the relationship between administration of devolved water services and water provision, and as established joint moderating effect of transformational leadership and planning on the relationship between administration of devolved water services and water provision in ASAL in Kenya. The study used positivism research orientation and was guided by the cross-sectional survey research design targeting 113 sub-counties within the 23 ASAL counties with a sample of the 89 sub counties. A structured questionnaire was used in collecting primary data from sub-county water officers with secondary data collection being done via desk study. Findings are expected to contribute useful information for ASAL Counties to formulate an action plan for water provision. The study found that there is significant positive relationship between administration of devolved water services and water provision in ASAL in Kenya given R-Square = 0.901 with F-Calculated (3, 70) = 211.613 > F-Critical (3, 70) = 2.74 and a p-value = 0.000 < 0.05. In addition, transformational leadership has a significant moderating effect on the relationship between administration of devolved water services and water provision in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands in Kenya given that ΔR2 = 0.009, ΔF(1, 70) = 10.017, b = .181, t(72) = 13.923, p-Value=0.000 < 0.05. Further, planning has a significant moderating effect on the relationship between administration of devolved water services and water provision in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands in Kenya given that ΔR2 = 0.003, ΔF(1, 70) = 25.1907, b = 0.763, t(72) = 5.824, p-Value=0.000 < 0.05. Moreover, the joint moderating effect of transformational leadership and planning on the relationship between administration of devolved water services and water provision in ASAL in Kenya is significantly different from their separate effect given change in R-Square = 0.041 compared with separate moderating effects (0.009 for transformational leadership and 0.003 for planning) with p-value = 0.000 < 0.05. As part of recommendation, policy framework should be enhanced to ensure effective, efficient water sector governance, coordination and leadership.