Community participation in the management of late projects: A case study of the municipal council of Machakos, Kenya

Abstract

This study was conducted when Kenya was ushering in a new constitutional dispensation. The constitution is currently being implemented and it embraces people’s participation in local development by shifting power and initiatives from the centre to the grassroots. This gave relevance to this study. The main objective of the study was to evaluate community participation in the management of LATF in Machakos Municipality. Data were collected in Machakos Municipality using both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis. The methods and tools used to collect data include questionnaires, key informants interviews guide and documentary review. The data was analyzed and presented in the form of tables, pie charts and bar graphs. The study found that the main occupation of Machakos Municipality residents were traders and workers. A good number are self-employed and employed but unemployment is still a major issue making the LATF projects of major significance to the community. There was gender representation in the management of the LATF projects. LATF project committees were dominated by older men and hence there was need to push the agenda of youth and women empowerment since they were the least in the committees. Awareness of the LATF Act provisions was limited and there was no adequate community participation in the management of LATF projects. The study found that LATF had given overwhelming powers to politicians in the management of the funds who determined the award of tenders which was characterized by corruption. The study’s recommendations are that: The LATF decision making process should be open and the locals should be involved in its various steps. To foster transparency and build confidence, there should be regular meetings to deliberate on the issues affecting the LATF projects and chatting the way forward. There was need to promote awareness on LATF and the overwhelming powers given to politicians under LATF needed to be trimmed.