EFFECTIVENESS OF NON-INSTITUTIONAL ACTORS’ INVOLVEMENT IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COUNTY ROADS POLICY IN NAROK COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

The implementation of local roads policies such as the County Roads Policy is a fundamental concern of modern governments since it enhances a nation’s economic competitiveness and prosperity. In Kenya, this implementation is pursued to the realization of global Sustainable Development Goals, the continental Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), the national Vision 2030, the National Quality Infrastructure Policy (2019), the National Spatial Plan and the County Spatial Plan; all of which edify the need for quality roads. The introduction of county governments by the constitution of Kenya (2010) created an extra layer for policy implementation to facilitate the attainment of national development goals through inclusion of all actors. However, the implementation of County Roads Policy has largely been dominated by the county institutions in concert with national government institutional support. This has diminished the local value contribution especially that of non institutional actors to policy development for county-level roads. This research study sought to investigate the effectiveness of non-institutional actors’ involvement in the implementation of County Roads Policy in Narok county. It aimed at establishing the non-institutional actors that exist in Narok county; the contribution of non-institutional actor networks to the implementation of County Roads Policy; the strategies used by the non-institutional actors to influence inclusion in the implementation of County Roads Policy; and the challenges that ensue in the process of implementing County Roads Policy in Narok county. The study utilized the social networking theory. The study targeted officials in the County department of Public Works, Roads and Transport and the non-institutional actors that existed in Narok county. The study utilized stratified simple random sampling as well as purposive sampling during data collection. Descriptive and correlational research designs were used. Questionnaires and interviews were used as the major research instruments to collect data. The study found out that the main non-institutional actors that exist in Narok county are political parties, media, NGOs, CBOs and households. The study also established that non-institutional actor networks have limited influence in the implementation of County Roads Policy. Furthermore, inept leadership, resource scarcity and lack of inclusion of stakeholders mostly the non-institutional actors (NIAs) were cited as the key challenges to the execution of the County Roads Policy. The study recommends the formation and sustenance of non-institutional actor networks and the combatting of the problems of inept leadership, resource scarcity, exclusion of stakeholders including NIAs and corruption if effective implementation of County Roads Policy is to be realized so as to accelerate socio-economic and political development in the nation. Finally, there is need to adopt policies on increasing the inclusion of NIAs in the implementation of County Roads Policy, increasing funds disbursement for county projects and embracing competence in implementation of public policies for sustainable development.