Influence Of Community Participation On The Implementation Of High Voltage Power Transmission Project In Meru County, Kenya

Abstract

The Kenya Vision 2030 has identified energy as a key foundation and one of the infrastructural enablers upon which the economic and social pillars of this long-term development strategy will be built. The successful transformation of Kenya into a newly industrialized country will greatly depend on the implementation of high voltage electricity transmission infrastructure that will form the backbone of the National Transmission Grid. Acquisition of the Right of Way for the high voltage power transmission projects has however been met with resistance and unrealistic compensation demands by the communities where the various projects are being implemented which has contributed to delays in execution of this projects. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of community participation on the implementation of high voltage power transmission project in Meru county, Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to establish how community participation in planning influence implementation of high voltage power transmission project in Meru county, Kenya; determine how community participation in communal social structure influence implementation of high voltage power transmission project in Meru County, Kenya; assess how community participation in strategic leadership influence implementation of high voltage power transmission project in Meru County, Kenya; examine the extent to which community participation in project design influence the implementation of high voltage power transmission project in Meru County, Kenya and to establish how community participation in monitoring and evaluation influence the implementation of high voltage power transmission project in Meru County, Kenya. The anticipated significance of this study is to provide a basis for inquiry into the legal and institutional policy dimensions that can enhance accountability and legitimacy for large infrastructure projects that result in compulsory acquisition. The target population was 462 household heads of Meru County within the 30-meter wayleave corridor of the Nanyuki- Meru Power transmission line. The sample size was determined by use of Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sampling formula which gave a sample size of 211 respondents of which 192 were fully filled and returned. Cluster sampling technique was used to select the respondents. Data was then collected using questionnaires and entered into Statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 21.0 where they were analyzed using descriptive statistic including measures of central tendencies that is (mean and standard deviation) and percentages where figures and tables were used to represent the data. The study found that community participation in communal social structure component, strategic leadership and monitoring and evaluation had a positive and significance influence on the implementation of high voltage power project. However, community participation in planning and community participation in project design of the high voltage power project were found not to have positive influence due to the technical skill and knowledge required. The study concluded that community participation in projects is highly influenced by principles influenced by its culture norms beliefs and values, that strategic leadership in development projects creates the ability to mobilize people towards a shared vision and that monitoring and evaluation is best achieved through involvement of the community in the M&E committees. The study recommends that, to ensure high voltage power projects are implemented as scheduled, frequent sensitization programmes of the projects need to be done to increase community understanding on their role in planning, prioritize need to understand the cultural dynamics of the specific communities and empower them to embrace development. The study also recommends that organization structures for project implementing organizations should be flexible and considerate to the community in order to achieve their goal. The study suggested further research to be conducted on other infrastructure project involving acquisition of public right of way, explore community rights involved during acquisition of land for large infrastructure development projects and on legal and regulatory framework for community participation in infrastructure project development.