Effectiveness of Monitoring and Evaluation Systems on the Performance of County Government Projects in the Lake Region Economic Bloc of Nyanza, Kenya

Abstract

In Kenya, the newly promulgated constitution of 2010 (CoK, 2010), provides the basis of monitoring and evaluation as an important tool for operationalizing Government projects to ensure transparency, integrity and accountability. The study was conducted in six   Lake Region economic Bloc Counties namely, Migori, Homabay, Kisumu, Siaya, Kakamega and Vihiga. This study specifically assessed the effectiveness of Monitoring and Evaluation Systems on the Performance of County Governments. The study was guided by the change and structural functionalism theories advanced by Emile Durkheim. The research was carried out using descriptive survey design which entails both qualitative and quantitative data collection procedures. The researcher used stratified random sampling techniques to draw a sample from the study population. The qualitative method focused on group discussion and in-depth interviews. The quantitative techniques employed questionnaires to 398 purposively selected subjects from the projects and programs. Data collection was from two main sources; primary and secondary. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics techniques. The study findings indicated that M&E systems indicated by the coefficient of effectiveness (R2) which is also evidenced by F change 109.403>p-values (0.05). This implies that this variable is significant (since the p values<0.05) and therefore should be considered as part of effectiveness of M&E systems on the performance of County Governments projects. The study concludes that there is no adequate monitoring and evaluation system currently in place for County Government Projects that can facilitate the desired project performance and outcomes. The study recommends that the County Government should develop a clear M&E Systems for each county project with clear indicators, tools and process. This Study recommends further research to be done in the other Regional County Blocs.