COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN WARD DEVELOPMENT FUND (WDF) PROJECTS IN HARAMBEE WARD, MAKADARA SUB-COUNTY BRENDA NANJALA MUKUNGU A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE INSTITUTEOF ANTHROPOLOGY, GENDER AND AFRICAN STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMNTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN DEVELOPMENT ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI 2020 DECLARATION This dissertation is my original work and has not been submitted to any other University for examination. Signature …………………………….................... Date……………………… BRENDA NANJALA MUKUNGU This dissertation has been submitted for examination with our approval as the University Supervisors. 1st Supervisor: Signature …………………………….................... Date……………………………… PROF. CHARLES OWUOR OLUNGAH 2nd Supervisor: Signature ……………………………................... Date……………………………… DR. DALMAS OCHIENG OMIA ii DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my family; my loving parents Mr. Walter Mukungu and Gloria Wakoli, my sister Yvonne Semo. Your invaluable love and support has seen me through this academic journey. This journey would not have been completed without your sacrifices along the way, be blessed. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENT I would wish to express my gratitude to each and every individual that made this journey a success. First and foremost, I am so grateful to my supervisor Professor Charles Owuor Olungah for his unwavering support and guidance throughout my academic journey. He has been instrumental in providing scholarly support, guidance and encouragement in the planning, development and completion of this study. I am forever indebted to him for this kind of input. Secondly, I would wish to express my gratitude for the scholarly input and guidance received from my second supervisor Dr. Dalmas Ochieng Omia. The support and guidance given was invaluable and for that I truly appreciate. It is without doubt that the constructive criticisms and comments shaped the content of this thesis. I would also wish to recognize my classmates Mercy, Sarah, Rosemary, Nicole and Balentine for their support socially and academically, may you be blessed. Furthermore, I would wish to extend my gratitude to the Ward administrator in Harambee ward for providing the necessary information that enabled me carry out my research. Lastly I am grateful to the Graduate School, University of Nairobi for awarding me the scholarship that provided the financial support during my study. Without this support I would not have completed my studies. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION.......................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION............................................................................................................ iii ACKNOWLEDGMENT ............................................................................................ iv LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................... ix LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ................................................... x ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................ xii 1.0 CHAPTER ONE: BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY ...................................... 1 1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ......................................................................................... 6 1.3 Objectives of the Study ............................................................................................ 8 1.3.1 Overall Objective .............................................................................................. 8 1.3.2 Specific Objectives ............................................................................................ 8 1.4 Assumptions of the Study ........................................................................................ 8 1.5 Justification of the Study ......................................................................................... 9 1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study......................................................................... 10 1.7 Definition of key terms .......................................................................................... 11 2.0 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................... 12 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 12 2.2 Historical Overview of Community Participation in Devolved Funds in Kenya .. 12 2.2.1 Elements of Community Participation in Current Devolved Structure........... 14 2.2.2 Awareness and Knowledge of WDF Operations and Policies by Community .................................................................................................................................. 16 2.2.3 Levels/typologies of Participation ................................................................... 17 v 2.2.4 Challenges Faced by Community Members in Participation .......................... 21 2.3 Theoretical Framework .......................................................................................... 22 2.3.1 Structuration Theory ....................................................................................... 22 2.3.2 Relevance of Structuration Theory to this Study ............................................ 24 2.4 Conceptual Framework .......................................................................................... 25 3.0 CHAPTER THREE: METHOLODOGY......................................................... 27 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 27 3.2 Research Site .......................................................................................................... 27 3.3 Research Design..................................................................................................... 28 3.4 Study Population and Unit of Analysis .................................................................. 29 3.5 Sample Size and Sampling Procedures .................................................................. 29 3.6 Data Collection Methods ....................................................................................... 31 3.6.1 Survey.............................................................................................................. 31 3.6.2 Focus Group Discussions ................................................................................ 31 3.6.3 Key Informant Interviews ............................................................................... 32 3.6.4 Secondary Data ............................................................................................... 33 3.7 Data Processing and Analysis ................................................................................ 33 3.8 Ethical Considerations ........................................................................................... 34 3.9 Ethical challenges and their solutions .................................................................... 35 4.0 CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTEPRETATION .................................................................................................... 37 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 37 4.2 Demographic characteristics of respondents ......................................................... 37 4.2.1 Age of the respondents........................................................................................ 37 4.2.2 Gender of the Respondents ............................................................................. 37 vi 4.2.3 Level of Education of the Respondents........................................................... 38 4.2.4 Income levels of respondents .......................................................................... 38 4. 2.5 Duration of residence of the respondents ...................................................... 39 4.3 Level of awareness and Knowledge of WDF operations and policies .................. 40 4.3.1 Awareness and knowledge about WDF projects ............................................. 40 4.3.2 Awareness of sources of knowledge on WDF ................................................ 42 4.3.3 Awareness of type of WDF projects that have been implemented ................. 44 4.4 Modes of participation and degree of inclusivity in WDF projects ....................... 48 4.5 Challenges Faced by Community Members in the Process Of Participation in WDF Projects ......................................................................................................................... 55 5.0 CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................................... 60 5.1 Summary ................................................................................................................ 60 5.2 Conclusions ............................................................................................................ 61 5.3 Recommendations .................................................................................................. 62 5.4 Recommendation