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Social Determinants of Effective Public Participation in NG-CDF Funded School Projects in Takaba Sub-County of Mandera County, Kenya

Parliamentary involvement in grassroots projects and in community development has been growing in developing countries such as Kenya. One of the main roles of the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) is to provide facilities in learning institutions. This creates the right learning atmosphere for learners and other stakeholders. In schools these funds are meant to facilitate construction of various infrastructure including classrooms, laboratories, and libraries among others. However, the reality on the ground in Takaba Sub-County is different in many cases. It is quite evident that the procedure being followed does not address the felt need in most schools. There are projects that were started and have never been completed. In some other institutions, projects that were funded are not those that were urgently required at the particular time. The purpose for which the fund was created was compromised; the institutions with greater need continued to lag behind; and the wrong reasons that are sometimes used to determine the implementation of some projects for particular schools were enhanced. It was, therefore, necessary that a study be carried out to establish the social determinant of effective public participation in NG-CDF funded school projects in Takaba sub-County of Mandera County, Kenya. This research problem was studied through the use of a descriptive research design. The population for this study was members of Takaba sub-County CDF Committees and the public committee involved in the implementation of CDF projects. The study had a target population of 169 respondents. The study used Fisher, Laing and Stoeckel (1983) formula to arrive at the sample size of 118 respondents. The research used questionnaires, which the researcher administered individually to all respondents of the study. The study carried out a pilot study to pretest and validate the questionnaire. Quantitative data collected was analyzed using SPSS V 23 and was presented through percentages, means, standard deviations and frequencies. The information was displayed by use of bar charts, graphs and pie charts and in prose-form. Content analysis was used to test data that is qualitative in nature with data collected from the open ended questions. A multiple regression analysis was applied to determine the relative of importance of each of the four variables with respect to effective public participation. The study found that communication methods, awareness level, attitude and perception and cultural practices are statistically significant to public participation. The study concludes that communication methods, awareness level, attitude and perception and cultural practices are positively related to public participation. The government and other stakeholders should use communication methods which will enhance participation in NG-CDF funded school projects. The management of NG-CDF funded school projects should understand the attitude and perception of individuals. The project managers should understand the cultural practices of people they want to participate in the projects. Key terms: Social determinants, Public participation, National Government Constituency Development Funds, Projects
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