Citizen Participation in County Public Participation Forums in Shirere Ward, Kakamega County, Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t3161Abstract
Public participation is a constitutional requirement and a cornerstone of Kenya’s devolved governance system, intended to ensure inclusive, responsive, and citizen-driven development planning. Despite this mandate, participation outcomes at the ward level remain uneven and poorly understood. This study examined the determinants of citizen participation in County Public Participation Forums in Shirere Ward, Kakamega County, Kenya. Specifically, it assessed community sociodemographic characteristics, awareness of development priorities, institutional knowledge of participation frameworks, levels of participation, perceptions of participation benefits, and the role of local groups in mobilizing citizen engagement. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design and collected quantitative data from 72 adult residents using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and cross-tabulations were used to analyze participation patterns across gender, age, and education. Findings reveal a paradox of high civic capacity but low engagement. Although 79.2 percent of respondents possessed post-secondary education, only 30.6 percent had ever participated in a County Public Participation Forum. Awareness gaps emerged as a key barrier: 27.8 percent had never heard of participation forums, while 41.7 percent had only superficial knowledge; only 30.6 percent understood their purpose. Youth unemployment (72.2 percent extremely severe), drug abuse (88.9 percent very or extremely severe), poor access to clean water (80.6 percent), climate vulnerability (80.6 percent), and inadequate health facilities (77.8 percent) were identified as the most pressing development priorities. Despite low participation, belief in participation remained strong, with 61.1 percent agreeing that public participation ensures projects reflect real community needs. However, women and older respondents were significantly more skeptical about the equity outcomes of participation. The study recommends that county governments close the institutional awareness gap through targeted civic education, integrate trusted grassroots groups into formal participation frameworks, adopt gender- and age-responsive participation strategies, and strengthen feedback mechanisms to demonstrate how citizen input influences development decisions.
Keywords: Citizen Participation, County, Public Participation Forums, Shirere Ward, Kakamega County, Kenya
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