Abstract
Arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) experience persistent water scarcity due to low and erratic rainfall, making sustainable water infrastructure essential for socioeconomic development. Despite significant investments in small dams and water pans in Machakos County, Kenya, many of these projects experience declining functionality within a few years of completion. This study examined the influence of project management practices, specifically cost management and risk management, on the sustainability of small dams and water pan projects in Machakos County, Kenya. The study was anchored on the Theory of Strategic Cost Management and Risk Management Theory and adopted a descriptive research design. The target population comprised 324 respondents drawn from county officials, water company officials, project managers and engineers, and community beneficiaries. Using the Yamane sampling formula, a sample of 179 respondents was selected, of whom 162 returned completed questionnaires, representing a response rate of 90.5%. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression. The findings revealed that both cost management and risk management had positive and statistically significant effects on the sustainability of small dams and water pan projects. Cost management emerged as the strongest predictor of sustainability, indicating that effective budgeting, expenditure monitoring, procurement control, and maintenance financing are critical for ensuring long-term project functionality. Risk management also significantly enhanced sustainability through proactive risk identification, feasibility assessment, early warning systems, and preventive interventions. The study recommends adopting lifecycle-based cost management, establishing ring-fenced maintenance funds, strengthening routine risk monitoring and early warning systems, and developing a county-level sustainability framework to enhance the long-term performance of small dams and water pans in Machakos County.
Keywords: Cost management; Risk management; Project management practices; Sustainability; Small dams; Water pan projects; Machakos County; Kenya.