Abstract:
Poverty remains a key challenge in Kenya despite the implementation of
numerous interventions. Past poverty alleviation strategies failed partly
because projects were not based on priorities of poor and the chronically
poor, especially. Consequently, the government established the
Constituency Development Fund in 2003 to alleviate poverty by involving
people at the constituency in project planning and implementation. This
paper examines how people, including chronically poor people, are
mobilised and how they participate in development projects. This paper
shows that although many people have heard about the Fund, very few
know how it operates, and the role they are expected to play, due to
inappropriate mobilisation methods used by the Constituency
Development Fund committees. Thus, planning and implementation of
projects are done with little regard to the voices of poor people. In
particular, the chronically poor are excluded from local institutions and
networks through which people are mobilised and participate in
development projects. The paper argues that the recognition of the
political nature of participation and an understanding of the social power
relations is important in establishing institutions that would facilitate
participatory development.
The paper recommends that a review of the CDF law and implementation
of emancipatory educational and awareness activities are necessary to
establish local institutions that facilitate effective mobilisation and
participation of people in development projects.
