Factors influencing accessibility to constitueny development funds information by members of the public: a case of CDF projects in Nyeri Town constituency

Abstract

The research project study evaluated the factors influencing accessibility to the Constituency Development Fund information by members of public in Nyeri Town Constituency. The study established how citizen's awareness, transparency, information literacy and bureaucracy influence the accessibility of Constituency Development Fund information by members of the public in Nyeri Town Constituency. Despite the fact that Constituency Development Fund is a scheme purported to bring the control of economic development to the 'grassroots', it has remained effectively detached from the citizen participation.

The study was expected to yield findings that would inform the county government on the importance of free access to information by members of the public, In addition, since no study had been done on factor influencing accessibility Constituency Development Fund information to members of the public in Nyeri County, the study was expected to fill this research gap. The research design used in the study was descriptive survey design. Data collection was carried out by administering questionnaires. A pilot study was conducted to ascertain the validity and reliability of the questionnaire.

Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data, specifically the frequency distribution tables were used. The study found out that the level of awareness of CDF procedures and regulations were very low among the community and committee members; there were lack of transparency among the committee members on CDF operations and involvement of community members; there were low levels of information literacy as the community and committee members did not have adequate CDF information; and there was bureaucracy since the community were unable to access CDF information on time, and sometimes they were required to seek permission from either the MP or NMB.