CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT FUND (CDF) AND ITS EFFECTS ON COMMUNITY WELFARE IN TIGANIA EAST CONSTITUENCY, MERU COUNTY KENYA

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of the study was to identify the effects of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) on community welfare in Tigania East Constituency.
 Methodology: The study adopted descriptive design. The target population was the Constituency Development Fund beneficial groups and project leaders including project management committees (PMCs) of Tigania East Constituency currently implementing projects funded by the CDF. The population comprised of 500 project-member committee drawn from the ongoing CDF-funded projects in Tigania East Constituency. The study employed stratified sampling where the Constituency was divided into Sub Counties. This study utilized a sample size of 100. The study used structured questionnaire and semi structured interviews to collect data. Pilot study was done on ten randomly picked members, two from each sub county and would not participate in the actual study. The researcher used Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version to analyse data. Data analysis employed both descriptive and inferential statistics.
 Results: The findings showed that devolved funding has impacted positively on the community welfare of the people of Tigania East constituency. The findings revealed that all the independent variables notably; (X1) youth projects, (X2) health programmes, (X3) infrastructure projects and (X4) educational programmes have a significance influence on community welfare. Youth projects, health programmes, infrastructure projects and educational programmes have p-value of 0.022, 0.004, 0.049, and 0.007 respectively. These p-values are statistically significant at 5% significant level. The study concludes that youth projects, health programmes, infrastructure projects and educational programmes had a significant positive relationship with community welfare in constituency offices. The findings show there are several projects that are being funded/ have been funded by the CDF. It also shows that there are positive outcomes to the community from CDF and that the level of community participation in the projects funded by devolved funds is high.
 Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommends that all stakeholders have to participate in ensuring sustainability of positive strategies adopted in the management of the fund so as to continue realizing their effects. The study also recommends that the national government should fasten the processes leading to disbursement of funds to local units so as not to delay the implementation of projects. The study further recommends that there is the need to train CDF Funds staff as well as the community representatives on issues of project prioritizing, choice and management.