Factors Affecting Community Participation in the Management of Development Projects Through Local Authority Service Delivery Action Plans: A Case Study Of Kilgoris Constituency, Narok County

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the factors affecting community participation in the management of development projects through LASDAP in Narok County; Kilgoris Constituency. A qualitative research approach was followed in which data was gathered through document analysis and field interviews. The respondents in the study comprised two hundred community members among them were officials from the Local Authority and Civil Society Organizations in the study area. Key findings of the study indicated contrasting views between community and the Local Authority officials with regard to citizen participation in LASDAP development projects. The study established very low community participation In LASDAP process, limited awareness coming out strongly as one of the reasons for poor local involvement in the development projects. Based on the findings and conclusions of this study, the researcher made recommendations and provided guidelines for the implementation of community participation in the LASDAP process. The researcher concluded that in order for the government to achieve maximum community participation and subsequently impact on in LASDAP process, the local government is obliged to create an enabling environment for community participation, which includes amongst others addressing the institutional obstacles and the capacity gaps within the community. The researcher finally recommended that the local government must create awareness about the LASDAP projects and ways in which the community can actively participate. Subsequently the capacity of the local people must be developed to enable them contribute positively to the development of their local governments