Influence of Devolved Governance on Zero Hunger Sustainable Development Goal in Pokot North Sub- County, Kenya

Abstract

Devolution is one of the concepts employed by several countries across the world to have people engaged in economic development or access service delivery at the door step. The second SDG is to have zero hunger among various member states which has 7 targets that need to be addressed. Claims of hunger have also been reported in the Pokot North, Sub- County despite intervention from the Non-Governmental organization (NGO’s) and well-wishers through donations of food supplies this occur consistently in the county despite county interventions. It is from that alteration that the study was seeking to find answer to the question; does devolved governance influence achievement of zero hunger in Pokot North, Sub- County? The specific objectives of the study were: To establish the extent to which devolved resources influence zero hunger sustainable development goal in Pokot North, Sub- County, to assess the extent to which devolved power and authority influence zero hunger sustainable development goal in Pokot North, Sub- County, and to evaluate the extent to which devolved structure influence zero hunger sustainable development goal in Pokot North, Sub- County. The study was guided by the sequential theory of decentralization opined by Smith 2011. The study used survey research design. The target population of the study was 156 top management staff consisting of 56 County officials from ministry of health and agriculture, 28 representatives from the 7 NGO’s working in the area, and 72 opinion and administrative leaders in the constituency. The sample size of the study was 112 respondents and stratified simple random sampling technique was used. The study did use structured questionnaire during the process of collecting data. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The main findings of the study were: the county had capacity to plan and allocate resources required to manage food security but the resources are not allocated equitably and they are not monitored fully to ensure prudent use. The study found that the county has the required authority and power to make independent decisions to mobilize, and build capacity in order to tackle food security problem in the county but that has not been achieved. The other finding is that county government structure does not allow the communities to participate in decisions that help alleviate the hunger problem in the county. These are some of the reasons that have hindered achievement of zero hunger SDG goal in the county. The study recommends that the County and National Government should use the findings of the study to formulate ways to manage hunger within the county and need to build capacity and inform the communities on the need to be food secure.