The Government and Donors saw the potential and in exploiting this potential came up with small scale irrigation projects along river Galana with sole aim of attaining food security and improvement of the social-economic well being of the residents. These failed after the donors closed the projects and interventions continue to fail. Galana river is the second longest river in Kenya but to date there is no irrigation scheme which is operational. The study scope was Chakama location which falls under the ASAL region thus rain fed agriculture is a challenge thus irrigation is the the only alternative. Two schemes in this area; Chakama and Shakahola irrigation schemes were of interest as they are the oldest and have the highest number of Donor Agencies intervention. Three basic motivational theories; Theories X and Y, Mallows hierarchy of needs and contingency theory formed the basis of the literature review leading to a a conceptional framework relating poverty, flooding of river, scheme management practices and design to sustainability. These relations helped to determine the factors affecting sustainability of small scale irrigation proje