Resource and Stakeholder Mobilization by Community-Based Organizations for Community Economic Development in Kenya: A Survey of Community-Based Organizations in Siaya County

Abstract

Most developing countries, including Kenya, have a big proportion of the population still living in rural areas that face an immense challenge especially on economic development and access to basic social infrastructure that include roads, health, water, and education. The government and local authorities are striving with the available limited resources against the competing priorities in order to meet the needs of the population and improve the quality of life and wellbeing. This study examined the role of community-based organizations (CBOs) on economic development in Siaya County, specifically their role on resource and stakeholder mobilization in Kenya. The study was anchored on Social Capital Theory but also analyzed both System and Conflict Theories. The study provides new and relevant information on the role of CBOs in development to the County governments as devolved systems of government responsible for development and planning thus justifying investment and policy formulation for closer collaboration. Descriptive study was undertaken and targeted and enumerated two respondents per group (total 50) in all the 25 CBOs in Siaya County that were duly registered and had coverage of at least one Sub-County. Using a Likert scale questionnaire, quantitative data was collected. Prior to that, a pilot study was done in the nearby Kakamega County to test the instrument. Descriptive, correlation and regression analysis was applied to the data using SPSS version 21. The findings indicate that; Resource Mobilization by CBOs enhances the organizations’ contribution to community economic development, stakeholders’ mobilization plays a critical role in community economic development, the CBOs in Siaya County have managed to increase their impact on economic development at the community level. The study suggests replication in other counties where NGO activity is evident in Kenya, focusing on community based organizations that do not rely on aid as their main income sources. Moreover, a comparative study involving the CBOs from the East African countries should also be considered in future studies. Keywords: Resource Mobilization, Stakeholder Engagement, community based organization and Siaya County.