Factors influencing performance of constituency development funded dispensary projects in Kenya: a case of Nandi county

Abstract

The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) was a strategy for devolution of resources. It was hoped that the strategy would enhance people‟s participation and power in decisionmaking processes; promote good governance, transparency and accountability. However, various issues and concerns were being raised regarding the CDF processes and structures and community participation in decision-making in the administration, management, monitoring and evaluation of the fund in various constituencies. The objective of this study was to investigate the factors influencing performance of CDF funded dispensary projects in Kenya using a case of Nandi County. The specific objectives of the study were: determining the effect of stakeholders‟ involvement on performance of CDF funded dispensary projects; determining the effect of competence of the implementation team on performance of CDF funded dispensary projects; determine the effect of human resource provision on performance of CDF funded dispensary projects; and determine the effect of commitment from political leaders on performance of CDF funded dispensary projects. This study used descriptive research design. The target population of this study comprised of the CDF dispensary projects committees in Nandi County, the staff working in the dispensaries, the local leaders, the beneficiaries of the dispensaries. This study made use of a sample so as to save on cost and time. The sampling was done on the executive committee members responsible for overseeing CDF dispensary projects in Nandi County and the staff working in the dispensaries. This study used questionnaires as the data collection instruments. The questionnaire comprised of both open and close ended questions. The data was collected using self-administered questionnaires through drop and pick later method where the researcher delivered the questionnaires in person at the respondents‟ places of work. Before embarking on data analysis, the questionnaires collected from the field were inspected for completeness, coded, and entered into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for analysis. SPSS version 21.0 analysis program was used to analyse the quantitative data while content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. From analysis undertaken, the regression value, R was 0.783, the value of R square was found to be 0.751, the value of adjusted R square was 0.653 and the value of standard error of the estimate was found to be .1169. The positivity and significance of all values shows that the model summary is significant. This means that all variables under study influences performance of CDF funded dispensary projects and therefore gives a logical support to the study model. The study established that the competence of the implementation team influenced the performance of the CDF funded dispensaries. The study also revealed that there is low level of transparency and accountability in the CDF dispensary projects due to interference by political leaders. The study concluded that the competence of the implementation team influenced the performance of the CDF funded dispensaries. This study recommended that implementation team needs to be trained, educated and supported to enhance their competency and delivery. This study also recommended that human resource provision should utilize individuals to effectively achieve results