Factors Affecting Implementation Of Constituency Development Funded Projects In Kenya

Abstract

Project implementation is a critical performance management tool in government projects especially in aligning Kenya’s development agenda to Vision 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals. CDF was mooted as one of the decentralized funds executed at community level and a main precursor to the current devolved mode of governance. The gist of CDF formulation is to ensure equitable economic, social and political developments across the country, giving citizens an opportunity to identify and implements projects that suited their specific needs. The challenge however, seems to be projects delays, stalled, poor quality of projects and unsatisfied communities in the project cycle. The CDF projects are not completed on schedule and on cost effective manner. The study sought to find out the factors affecting implementation of CDF funded projects in Kilgoris constituency. The study was guided by the following objectives; to find out whether budgetary allocation affects implementation of CDF projects in Kilgoris, to determine the effects of community participations on CDF funded projects in Kilgoris, to establish the effects of M&E on implementation of CDF projects in Kilgoris constituency and to investigate whether performance management affects implementation of CDF projects. The study was conducted in Kilgoris constituency which is one of the five constituencies in Narok County. The study was done through a descriptive survey research design as stated by Kothari (2004). A total target population of 135 projects was used for the study. The research adopted census sampling for 3 CDFCs members, 5 PMCs members, 12 technical officials and 39 project beneficiaries. The sample of research size was fifty nine. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and focused group discussions. The Data collected was subjected to SPSS version 22 for analysis providing both inferential analysis and testing, utilizing Pearson’s correlation and regression analysis techniques. Data was interpreted accurately on the established research objectives. The study found that budgetary allocation had a positive relationship with implementation of Constituency Development funded in Kilgoris constituency; community participation had a positive relationship with implementation of Constituency Development funded in Kilgoris constituency; monitoring and evaluation had a positive relationship with implementation of Constituency Development funded in Kilgoris constituency; and Performance Management had a positive relationship with implementation of Constituency Development funded in Kilgoris constituency. The study recommends audit on all the CDF projects to ensure the allocated funds are used appropriately and also the community should have access to the budgetary information of the projects in progress within their community; CDF committee should disburse funds to ensure that the projects are fully implemented, this will reduce the number of stalled projects in the community; the community should be involved in all stages of CDF projects because they contribute to the success of project implementation; and there should be constant monitoring and evaluation of the projects in all cycles of the project including after the project has been concluded. The study therefore recommends replication of the research study in other constituencies in the country to facilitate generalization of the research findings. The study also recommends evaluation on the satisfactory performance of the CDF Funded projects.