FACTORS AFFECTING THE PERFORMANCE OF CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT FUND PROJECTS IN KENYA: A CASE OF THARAKA CONSTITUENCY

Abstract

Parliamentary involvement in grassroots projects and in community development has been growing in a diverse set of countries, including Kenya. Community involvement in project identification and implementation ensures that projects implemented through decentralized funds respond to the needs of the community. It also contributes towards community ownership of projects (Shelbourn et al., 2007). In Kenya, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) was founded through the CDF Act (2003) then Revised in the year 2007. CDF is among the decentralized treasuries destined to attain fast socio-economic expansion to every constituency by funding of locally arranged developments and improved public involvement. This study sought to establish factors affecting the success of constituency development fund projects in Kenya with special reference to Tharaka constituency. This study adopted a descriptive survey. The population for this study was 169 CDF committee members in Tharaka Constituency. This study sampled 118 respondents. Data was collected using structured questionnaires. Data collected, was tabulated and analyzed for purpose of clarity, using SPSS version 20 software. Data was presented using tables and pie charts to make them reader friendly. In addition, a multiple regression was used to measure the quantitative data and was analyzed using descriptive statistic. The study concluded that poor monitoring and evaluation and poor accountability in CDF funds management have a negative impact on the performance of constituency development fund projects in Kenya. The study recommended that policy makers should consider formulating policies which ensure that the oversight board maintains high standards of accountability.