Participatory Communication Strategies for Enhancement of Development in Kenya: Migori County Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Projects

Abstract

In Kenya, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is a devolved system established by an Act of parliament in 2003 to help achieve socio-economic development at the constituency level. The CDF Act 2003 stipulates that Members of Parliament (MP) and local citizens jointly collaborate in prioritization and implementation of local development projects in their constituencies. Research has shown that while the general public awareness of CDF projects is high, community participation in CDF projects is minimal. The Literature reviewed shows that minimal research has been done to assess communication strategies used to disseminate CDF information among stakeholders at the grass root levels. This paper describes the communication strategies used to disseminate CDF information in Rongo and Uriri Constituencies in Kenya and analyzes how these strategies impacts on community participation in CDF projects in these constituencies.  The study was based on the Multiplicity approach to development communication in which communication is shifted from persuasion to participation through dialogue. It was developed through the pragmatic philosophical paradigm using convergent mixed parallel design. The study involved a total of 104 adult participants in Rongo and Uriri Constituencies of Migori County in Kenya. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected roughly at the same time and were merged in the interpretation of the overall results. Quantitative and qualitative data were displayed jointly using tables and charts. The study carried out in August 2013 found that CDF systems in Rongo and Uriri constituencies lack established communication strategies. Dissemination of CDF information to community members is done in public gatherings and functions where communication is mainly for creating awareness. As a result, participation of community members in CDF projects is minimal. The study therefore recommends the use of participatory communication strategies to enhance community participation in CDF projects.

Key words: development, participatory communication, devolved system