DETERMINANTS OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN IMPLEMENTATION OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN KENYA: A CASE STUDY OF WAJIR COUNTY GOVERNMENT WATER PROJECTS
Shamsa Omar - Masters of Public Policy and Administration, Kenyatta University, Kenya
Dr. Edna Moi - Department of Public Administration, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kenyatta University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
The main purpose of the study was to investigate determinants of public participation in implementation of devolved projects in Kenya, a case study of Wajir county government water projects. The objectives are: To determine how stakeholder engagement influence public participation in implementation of devolved projects, to evaluate how public awareness influence implementation of devolved projects in Kenya, to assess the extent to which training affect implementation of devolved projects in Kenya and to assess how decision making influence implementation of devolved water projects in Kenya in Wajir County. Descriptive research, design was employed; the study targets a population of 101,321 households from Wajir County. A 400 household sample is arrived at using Miller and Brewer (2003) statistical formula. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaire. The study data collection instrument was reviewed by university supervisor to ensure validity. SPSS was used to analyze data using descriptive statistics. Data presentation was done using percentages and frequencies tables. Informed consent was sought from the respondents prior to data collection. Confidentiality took precedence regarding all information that was collected in order to avoid victimization. The study findings revealed that stakeholders engagement, public awareness, decision making and training influence water projects implementation in Wajir County. Based on the findings of the study that has come from the respondents in the field and the literature review, the researcher makes the following recommendations: First, the researcher recommends that the stakeholders should be involved and consulted from the beginning of projects idealization, identification, resourcing, planning, implementation and in the monitoring and evaluation process. Secondly, to ensure effective public participation in devolved projects, Wajir County should publicize all its proposed projects in the relevant materials and media that can be quickly and widely accessed. County government of Wajir should also carry out civic education to ensure that people are informed of their responsibility to take part in the planning and implementation of the county projects. Thirdly, the researcher recommends that resources with some biases to both human and financial resources should be scrutinized and both the county and national government should come up with strategies of allocating sufficient finances and hire quality and sufficient personnel. Finally, the study recommends that training should be paramount in projects success.
