Abstract:
The aim of this study was to assess the effects of multiple institutions in water policy
implementation. Four specific research objectives guided the study, namely to assess the
actors‟ roles and interactions in water allocation processes, to explore and assess the
water allocation processes and institutions, to identify and assess institutional and noninstitutional factors affecting water allocation processes, and to examine prevalence of
conflicts and factors contributing to their occurrence in water allocation processes.
The study was conducted in Mkindo and Kiroka irrigation schemes and employed the
Exploratory Sequential Mixed Approach, whereby the dominant approach was
qualitative, complemented by quantitative techniques. The data collection methods were
in-depth interviews, documentary reviews, focus group discussions, direct observations
for the qualitative data and questionnaire for quantitative data. Qualitative data were
analysed using qualitative content analysis and explanation building techniques. The
descriptive statistical analysis technique and Binary Logistic Regression Model were
used to analyse the quantitative data.
Findings revealed existence of poor coordination among actors, multiple institutions and
lack of adherence to formal allocation principles. Moreover, the study ascertained
prevalence of water users‟ conflicts in the selected schemes and analysed the factors
influencing their occurrence. The results indicated that these factors were significant at
p< 0.05 and p < 0.01. Generally, the study has concluded that multiple water resource
institutions affect water allocation processes and influence users‟ conflicts; however, the
nature and scope of their effects depend on the physical, material, bio-physical and
governance systems in which the resource is embedded. To enhance water allocation
processes in the selected schemes, the study recommends strengthening of coordination
units and multi-stakeholders platforms, improvement of capacity for the government
agents and enhancing government support for the water users.
