Management of Improved Cook Stoves Projects for Quality of Life in Teso South Sub-County, Busia County, Kenya

Patrick Obai Emukule, Paul Norvy and Wilkins Ndege Muhingi
The Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Kenya
Corresponding Author: emukulepa@gmail.com

Abstract: Kenya has been using improved cook stoves (ICS) since the 1980s because of the significant positive health, environmental, economic and social impacts on improving the quality of life. The main objective of this study was to examine how management of improved cook stoves projects could lead to quality of life in Teso-South Sub-County, Busia County in Kenya. It was guided by Human relations theory of management which underlines the art of getting things done through people working together as a unit. This was a descriptive study that employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The study sampled 392 respondents and used questionnaire and interview schedules to collect data. The semistructured one-to-one interviews were used to collect qualitative data each lasted for 30-45 minutes with 10 interviewees and 2 Key Informants. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 23), while qualitative data used content and thematic analysis. The study showed that structure, planning, organising, coordination and controlling of resources was important in ICS projects as illustrated by Fayol in administrative theory of management. The study showed that management of ICS projects positively affected health, environment, education and economic security. The study recommended for improved policy framework at the level of the County government to help in the promotion and coordination of ICS programmes and increased adoption rates for quality of life in Teso South SubCounty in Busia, Kenya.