Giving voice to the chronically poor a study of people's participation in projects funded under the constituency development fund in Ibeno location, Nyaribari Chache constituency,Kisii district

Abstract

This study is about people's participation III local development projects. The study examines how people are mobilised to participate in development projects and also examines the factors that constrain mobilisation and participation of the chronically poor. The study specifically looks at participation of the chronically poor in Constituency Development Fund (CDF) project's planning and implementation. The study's interest in people's participation follows from the observation that, in Kenya, past poverty alleviation strategies failed to achieve the goal of poverty alleviation. Reasons for this include failure to involve the poor in project planning and implementation. It is noted here that, in 2003, the Government of Kenya introduced a Constituency Development Fund, which is a poverty alleviation fund that emphasises people's participation in planning of development projects. However, several concerns have been raised about people's participation in the CDF projects. This study examines how peopleparticularly the chronically poor-participate in CDF project's planning. The propositions guiding this study are: when people have access to information about development projects, they are more likely to be mobilised for development projects. In addition, people who have few resources are less likely to participate in development projects. Also, socially excluded people are less likely to access information about development projects and be mobilised to participate in development projects. This study is based on data that was collected in Ibeno location, Kisii district in the period between August and September 2006. Data was collected through a survey involving interviews with respondents randomly selected from Theno location using a structured questionnaire. In addition, qualitative data was collected through focus group discussions, key informant interviews and case histories of chronically poor people. Findings show that although people have heard about the CDF, very few have knowledge of its operations and the role they are expected to play in project planning. Factors responsible for this include the inappropriate mobilisation methods used by the provincial administration. Further, mobilisation methods used to disseminate information about development projects tend to restrict information to few people. An examination of project planning shows that Constituency Development Committees (CDC) identified and selected projects with little involvement of the people at the local level. The committees were selected based on patronage. This resulted in inappropriate representation during decision-making in committee meetings as well as public meetings. Consequently, planning and implementation of development projects took place with little regard to views and priorities of people at the local level. In addition, chronically poor people are excluded from local institutions and networks through which they can access information about development projects or participate in development projects. The chronically poor thus have little information about development projects. The study concludes that poverty alleviation through development projects can be attained if poor people have a voice in the planning of development projects. It is therefore important that participatory methods are used to establish people's priority needs and projects. It is also important that the CDC constantly informs people of proposed projects, projects implemented and the amounts of cash involved in the projects. There is also need to review the CDF law to ensure that CDF committee members are nominated directly by the people and are accountable to the people