The Role of ICT-Based Monitoring and Evaluation Systems in Infrastructural Development in County Governments: Empirical Evidence from Machakos County, Kenya

Abstract

There exists knowledge gap in analysis of the influence of the general ICT-based M&E systems in county governments with a focus on data analysis and timely presentation to stakeholder, there an empirical gap in physical health infrastructural, road infrastructural development, market infrastructural development and sports infrastructural development ICT-based M&E. This study tried to fill the gap in knowledge by answering a question on what the role of ICT-based monitoring and evaluation systems in infrastructural development in county governments? The study used the Realist Evaluation Theory coupled with a descriptive design. The study was conducted in Machakos County, one of the 47 counties in the republic of Kenya with a target of both internal and external M&E contractors of the Machakos County Government since 2013 to 2022. The study used purposive sampling technique and census to select the study participants. Two forms of questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data; one for ICT departments and the other for M&E department of the County Government of Machakos. Interviews were used to collect qualitative data from the Heads of ICT and Project and Delivery M&E departments. The instruments were piloted at the county government of Kitui. Content validity of the instruments were assessed by experts while reliability was determined using Cronbach’s Alpha to ascertain items’ internal consistency (yielding r of at least 0.75). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analzyed quantitative data while the qualitative data was analzyed thematically. The study found that information and communication technology improvements had often led to new ideas. Because of technological progress, there were new methods, tools, and ways of doing things, as well as new opportunities and problems in infrastructural development in Machakos county government. In the construction industry, amenities like roads, bridges, and buildings were equipped with electronic sensors that could be accessed from afar and give information about access. Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems should be used by all sectors in the county to keep track of project progress, measure and evaluate project results.