Empowerment as a Tool in Public Participation and Socioeconomic Development

Abstract

The constitution of Kenya 2010 has given public participation prominence. Non-State and State Actors acting in the interest of the public should be involved in all public affairs. The 2010 Constitution of Kenya emphasises citizens’ participation. This background prompted this study, whose main objective was to examine the effects of empowerment on socioeconomic development in Kericho County. Participatory democratic theory guided this study. It targeted 550 employees working for the County Government of Kericho. Primary and secondary data collected using interviews and semi-structured questionnaires were key research tools. Enquiries of different types and surveying of facts about phenomena were the pillar of the study hence descriptive research design was deployed. A Target population of 224 officers and a sample of 144 was selected using a stratified sampling technique. Information obtained was checked for completeness, its clarity investigated, dressed and their organisation on the research instruments and analysis followed. Measures of association and descriptive statistics. The study used a a regression model to test the effect of public participation on socioeconomic development. The outcome was presented in the form of subjects such as tables. The finding indicated that the county used public meetings, gatherings and Barraza to enhance empowerment. The study found that equitable allocation of resources, self-help group funding and training assist in public empowerment. Therefore, public empowerment had a significant positive effect on socioeconomic development (P<0.05). This was achieved through public-private, foreign, and national government collaboration in projects. Empowerment programs done using public meetings had the lowest positive significant effect on socioeconomic development (P<0.05); public participation had a significant positive effect on the socioeconomic development of the county government. The study recommends that the county should employ sufficient researcher assistance as well as consider youth, women and persons living with disability enterprise in 30% preference and reservation in procurement