Public Participation Mechanisms and Equity in Resource Allocation by County Governments of Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to assess the relationship between public participation mechanisms and equity in resource allocation by county governments of Kenya. Although the place of public participation in ensuring equity is important, studies on this aspect are few and the results are not conclusive. Specifically, it aimed at analysing the effect of participants' preparation, participants' representativeness, comprehensiveness of deliberation, and management of citizen fora on equity in resource allocation by county governments of Kenya. It also sought to determine the moderating effect of the county budget approval process on the relationship between citizen fora and equity in resource allocation by county governments of Kenya. The study employed a descriptive survey design, and the target population was all the citizens who had participated in the budget forums in nine counties selected for the study. It employed a multi-stage sampling technique and involved 491 respondents and 27 key informants from county government officials were interviewed using interview guides. Secondary data was obtained from the relevant government documents and academic publications. The resulting data was analysed using the computer software (SPSS) and regression analysis was used to test the relationships. The results showed that all the independent variables namely, participants' preparation, participants' representativeness, comprehensiveness of deliberations, and management of citizen fora contribute to equity in the budget allocation to health, agriculture, and roads programmes by county governments of Kenya.; and that the county budget approval process positively and significantly moderates the relationship between citizen fora and equity in resource allocation by county governments. The study concluded that there is a positive and significant relationship between public participation and equity in resource allocation by county governments but recommends that for public participation forums to contribute to equity, county governments should ensure that budget documents given to the public are relevant and availed in a format and language that is easy to access. They should also ensure that a larger and more diverse proportion of the community attends the budget forums and not a few selected representatives. Moreover, participants at the forums should be given sufficient time and freedom to present their views, ask questions, and get clarification/responses from the county officials present. The forums should be held at the lowest level closest to the members of the public to reduce the time taken to and from the forums as well as make the cost of attending the forums affordable. Finally, county governments should allocate more resources to facilitate transport, meals as well as civic education to prepare the public adequately for the forums.