Effects of Constituency Development(CDF) in poverty reduction : A Case study of Narok North Constituency

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to identify effects of CDF in poverty reduction in Narok North Constituency. Objectives were to assess the administrative procedures to ensure transparency and accountability management of CDF funds, to identify the processes that contributes to the empowerment of the communities to monitor the utilization of the CDF resources, to establish the linkages between the CDF structures from the National to the Grassroots level and to find out the feedback mechanisms between the CDF structures from the National to the Grassroots level. A descriptive survey design was used in the study. The population of the study was 40 employees and 10 committee members of Narok North CDF. The study used random sampling method to select a sample size of32 respondents. Data was collected by use of questionnaires that were distributed to the respondents. The data collected was tabulated and analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented using tables, bar graphs and pie charts. From the study findings; there is no doubt that CDF is a novel concept and one that is expected to have major positive impact on development at the grassroots. In addition to advancing the welfare of the people through community projects, CDF has a salutary effect on participation which is itself pivotal to empowerment of communities. The paper recommends that the government should consider initiating more programmes of this caliber and promote greater participation from the local populations. Furthermore, for these programmes to be effective they should be based on rational and transparent procedures that encourage and foster sustainability and have independent structures at the grassroots to monitor the progress of development projects and put in place strong measures to discourage misappropriation of CDF. Principally, it is envisaged that this information would be used for policy and legislative reforms particularly influencing the CDF law for better CDF delivery to Kenyans. The findings of this study would also contribute and complement the already existing knowledge and literature on the CDF in poverty reduction. The study will also benefit academia because it would serve as a basis for further research into the subject matter especially in the CDF management.