An Assessment of Awareness of Integrated Development and Annual Development Plans Among Residents of Langata Sub County, Nairobi County

Abstract

County governments in Kenya allocate significant funds to various projects, but many of these initiatives fail to improve residents' lives or suffer from delays due to flawed implementation. The County Integrated Development Plans (CIDP) and Annual Development Plans (ADP) should involve public participation, yet this participation has been insufficient. Lack of awareness and understanding of the process hinders effective citizen engagement. This issue is critical as it directly affects project efficiency, resource allocation, and the quality of public services. This study was aimed at assessing awareness of Intergrated Development Plans and Annual Plans among residents of Langata Sub County, Nairobi County. The objective of study was among others to assess the awareness levels of the residents of Langata Sub County on the CIDP 2023-2028 and ADP 2023-2024. County. The research adopted a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative research techniques to comprehensively explore residents' awareness of County Integrated Development Plans (CIDP) and Annual Development Plans (ADP) in Langata Sub County. Qualitative methods, such as Focused Group Discussions (FGDs), investigated residents' perceptions and attitudes, while questionnaires gathered structured data for statistical analysis. The research used deductive reasoning to test existing theories and inductive reasoning to explore emerging themes. It adopted a positivist stance in the quantitative phase and an interpretivist approach in the qualitative phase. The study's design included both FGDs and questionnaires, ensuring a thorough understanding of awareness in Langata Sub County. Sampling techniques involved simple random and stratified methods, with data collected through surveys and interviews. Data analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics for questionnaires and thematic analysis for interviews. The integration of both qualitative and quantitative findings offered a holistic perspective on residents' awareness of CIDP and ADP. The study found that many are aware of CIDP and ADP A substantial portion understood the processes and considered residents' participation crucial. They also believed in a positive correlation between awareness and participation. Most participants perceived the importance of their involvement and felt motivated by it, with some prioritizing participation over other demands. The majority had knowledge about participation mechanisms and reported asking content-relevant questions during public meetings. While there was a perceived impact of awareness measures, the study found no significant relationship between awareness levels and active participation. However, from the study findings, the researcher recommends provision of opportunities for participation at various stages by including residents in different phases from planning to review and implementation. County government too should prioritize transparency and accountability. They can do this by incorporating transparency and accountability measures into development projects and communicate feedbacks as is used to make decisions.