Evaluation of the Management and Utilization of Consitituency Development Fund on Education Development in Gem Constituency, Siaya District, Kenya

Abstract

The contribution of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) on the development of education sector in Kenya since its inception in the year 2003 has been critical. Some studies have shown that like any other devolved funds, CDF implementation has faced challenges in its allocation criteria, problem of equity and influence by politicians in its allocation and disbursement. Consequently there is need to assess the awareness and knowledge of the CDF contribution to education development. These factors inhibit the funds effectiveness in achieving its set objectives. The purpose of this study therefore, was to evaluate the management and utilization of Constituency Development Fund on education development in Gem constituency, Siaya District. A survey research design was adopted for the study since one of its merits is that it aids the researcher in collecting original data for the purposes of describing a population which is too large to observe directly. The study target population comprised of 37,468 households, 9 chiefs, 15 CDF committee members, 125 headteachers and the District Development Officer (DDO). The study adopted multi-stage sampling technique. At stage one; the population was stratified into heads of households, head teachers, CDF committee members, chiefs and DDO. In stage two, a sample of 384 households was obtained at 95% level of statistical significance using the formula n=Z 2 pq/d 2 . The third stage involved selection of 48 households from each of the eight Kenya National Bureau of Statistics sampling frame using systematic sampling technique. At stage four, saturated sampling technique was adopted to select the CDF committee members, chiefs, DDO and the headteachers while purposive sampling technique was adopted to pick these respondents. Data were collected through interview schedules, key informant interviews, questionnaires and photography. The data analysis was done using SPSS and Excel computer packages. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize the data so as to enhance clarity and ease understanding of the information. Pie charts, bar, column, line graphs and tables were used to present analysed information on various aspects of CDF. The study reveals that 94.7% of the heads of households had knowledge of CDF sponsored education projects. However, the CDF sponsored project catalogue is not computerised for easier retrieval of information since the computers bought are not installed. The study shows that whereas the criteria used for allocating CDF to the projects were: good project proposals, poverty incidence, proximity of similar projects and population, the CDF bursary is disbursed based on household poverty, academic performance and orphanhood. The study also reveals that through development of education sector, households benefit directly and indirectly through: tenders for construction, supply of labour and materials, reduced expenditure on education, and increased enrolment and retention in Early Childhood Education, Primary and Secondary schools. On the basis of these findings, the study concludes that community knowledge on CDF sponsored education projects is significant and that to some extent, the CDF committee adopts professionalism in the identification and allocation of CDF to the projects and bursary in accordance with the CDF laws contained in the CDF Act 2003 and amendment Act 2007. The study therefore recommends computerization of CDF projects catalogue and there is need for CDF law to give guidelines on how CDF bursary is allocated to the beneficiaries. The study further recommends an increase of CDF from the current 2.5% to 5% or more of the national income by the government to ensure that other sectors such as health, agriculture, water and infra - structure are significantly covered so as to add benefits to the people in order to achieve the objectives of Kenya Vision 2030 on equitable distribution of resources and poverty reduction.