A survey of strategy implementation challenges facing regional development authorities

Abstract

Kenya has six Regional Development Authorities (RDAs) established under specific Acts of parliament. The RDAs were established with the objectives of creating desired regional balance in development through complementing multi-sectoral programme and projects. Their mandate is to plan, implement and coordinate development programme in regions under their jurisdiction to ensure development through integrated planning and management. These Authorities include Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) established under Cap 441 of the laws of Kenya, the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA), Cap 442, Tana River and Athi River Development Authority (TARDA), Cap 443, Ewaso Ngiro South River Basin Development Authority (ENSDA), Cap 447, Ewaso Ngiro North River Basin Development Authority (ENNDA), Cap 448 and the Coast Development Authority (CDA), Cap 449 of the laws of Kenya. The RDAs have a big potential in attracting investments to achieve sustainability and complement the government's efforts in wealth and employment creation. However, a number of constraints inhibit RDAs from achieving its objectives. Some of this constraints includes dependency on the exchequer for their recurrent and capital requirements as evidenced by the reduction of 15% of the recurrent expenditure to RDAs in the 2005/2006 financial year; Enactment of overlapping Acts of parliament such as Water Act, Irrigation Act, Power Act, EMC Act etc resulting in the dilution of the mandate of RDAs and diversion of funds to other institutions for activities meant to be impleme~ted by RDAs; inadequate development funding; poor salaries to staff; lack of autonomy and absence of regional development policy. The purpose of this study was to determine the strategy implementation challenges facing Regional Development Authorities in Kenya. The fundamental question this study sought to answer is "what are the strategy Implementation challenges facing Regional Development Authorities in Kenya?" It was found out that all the Regional Development Authorities have strategic plans. For most of the Regional Authorities the strategies were for periods of 1-5 years, this may be attributed to the operating period [or most governments departments which take a five year range. However, the results indicate that a politicized internal environment as a cultural factor has had a great negative effect on the execution of strateg