A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Masters of Science degree in the school of Business at KCA University
The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) was adopted by the government in 2003 as a people centered approach to development. The study examined the impact of the CDF on rural development in the Gatundu South Constituency. The study was guided by three specific objectives which included; establishing the effect of community participation in rural development in Gatundu South Constituency; to determine the role of CDF management in rural development in Gatundu South Constituency; to determine effect of type of projects implemented through the CDF on rural development in Gatundu South Constituency. The study also presented the theoretical and empirical literature on which the study is premised along with the conceptual framework. The study adopted the descriptive research design. Stratified random sampling procedures were adopted to identify the sample for the study. A structured questionnaire was the primary tool for data collection and was be self – administered to the study respondents. The researcher adopted descriptive statistics to make meaningful inferences from the collected information which included correlation analysis and the chi-square tests. The data was presented in tables, charts which were in percentages and frequencies and complemented by the researchers own interpretation in verbatim. The correlation analysis indicated that community participation in project processes is strongly and positively correlated to rural development with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.729 and is significant, p = 0.000 type of projects funded by the CDF is positively correlated to rural development as denoted by the coefficient of r = 0.812 and is significant, p = 0.001. Further the matrix indicated a positive correlation between CDF management and rural development by the coefficient of r = 0.622. The chi-square statistic of community participation was p = 0.317 the p-value were greater than 0.05 and hence there was no statistically significant association between community participation and rural development. The chi-square statistics of type of CDF projects was p = 0.031 the p – value was less than 0.05 and hence there was a statistically significant relationship between type of CDF projects and rural development. The chi-square statistic of CDF management was p = 0.739 the p – value was greater than 0.05 and hence there was no significant relationship between CDF management and rural development. The study recommends for increase in the CDF allocation, CDF mandated bodies should continuously device effective communication techniques to enhance community involvement in projects processes. There should be provision of training and capacity building for project management committee members in project management skills which will assist them in implementing projects that fulfill the four criterions of time, budget, scope and quality.
