Giving Voice to The Chronically Poor.

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.