Factors Influencing Sustainability of Constituency Development Funded Projects in the Devolved Government in Kenya

Abstract

CDF is a development initiative that was created by the NARC government in 2003(CDF Act 2003) to address poverty and development at grassroots level. For the purpose of this study, the researcher sought to investigate why the noble idea of decentralizing funds through CDF for development has not been sustainable despite the huge a location of funds by the government with focus on health facilities projects funded by CDF in Ruaraka Constituency .CDF was intended to transform the economic wellbeing of local communities hence leading to poverty reduction. In addition the CDF and devolvement of funds in general will enhance people‟s participation in the decision making processes promote good governance and promote transparency and accountability. Studies indicated however that most CDF developed projects had stalled and therefore were not helping the community in any way of improving their lives. The purpose of this study was to examine factors that influence sustainability of CDF funded health facilities in Ruaraka constituency Nairobi County. Specifically, aimed to study four objectives: Stakeholder involvement, Funding, Accountability and Political factors. The study was based on descriptive survey research design. This study was carried out in Ruaraka constituency and targets 57 respondents from a target Population of 287 respondents who were beneficiaries of CDF funded projects in the five wards that form Ruaraka Constituency. Purposive sampling was be used in order to get targeted groups in the research who is the medics, PMCs, accountants and the local people. Questionnaires were used to collect primary data; the data was analyzed quantitatively using SPSS where the result were presented in terms of tables.The study revealed that stakeholder involvement in health facilities projects funded by CDF was being done as indicated by 66% of the respondent who were satisfied in the manner in which they were involved.It was established that political factors played a role in sustainability of health projects as indicated by 46.8% who strongly agreed that area Member of parliament influenced projects undertaken.It was also established that CDF funds were not timely disbursed with only 31.9% of the respondent agreeing that it was timely disbursed.The research also revealed that majority of the respondent agreed that information regarding CDF projects was readily available as indicated by 55.3% which enhance sustainability.The recommendations of the study were ;project sustainability will call for all inclusive with PMCs,CDFCs and community members all involved failure to do will lead to failure of many projects.There should be adequate funding for CDF health projects to enable them to be completed and fully operational and there should be capacity building for CDFCs and PMCs committee members and the community in general through training to equip the with skills and knowledge related with implementation of these projects.The researcher hoped that the findings of the study will be useful to formulation of relevant policies which may address the difficulties facing sustainability of CDF health funded projects inRuaraka and Kenya in general.