Efficacy of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Projects on Community Welfare in Kenya: A Case of Nambale Constituency

Abstract

Despite different approaches to economic growth over the years, inadequate distribution of resources has continued in Kenya. As part of measures to address this, the government adopted decentralized development by establishing the constituency Development Fund (CDF). however queries have been raised over effectiveness of the CDF projects on community welfare. The study was anchored on decentralization theory and adopted descriptive crossectioal survey with a sample of 383 respondents from a target population of 94,637. Furthermore, it was guided by two objectives: to identify and describe CDF projects addressing community welfare; and to examine the effects of selected CDF projects on community welfare. Data was collected by means of questionnaire and interview while the same were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and content analysis. Specifically, Pearson Chi-square test (X²), Spearman's Correlation and Symmetric Measure Gamma Statistics were used to infer from sample to population to test statistically significant relationships. Findings indicate that a diversity of projects are funded by CDF but education, health and water/sanitation are the key CDF projects that greatly impact on community welfare. It is recommended that CDF Act should also provide for and define proper feedback mechanism on CDF projects for the public to facilitate timely intervention hence ensure efficacy.

Keywords: Project Efficacy, CDF Projects, Community Welfare, Constituency Development Fund