Challenges of strategy implementation in Constituency Development Fund: The case of Kisumu Town West Constituency

Abstract

A review of the literature on strategy implementation reveals that there is a wide range of challenges of strategy implementation. This research project focused on a case study of the challenges of strategy implementation in Constituency Development Funds at Kisumu Town West constituency. The purpose was to identify the challenges of strategy implementation and to establish how the constituency was coping with the challenges. Data was collected from the constituency and analyzed. Interviews were conducted within the management committees that are implementing the strategic plan at the constituency, based on Okumus strategy implementation framework of 2003. The model comprises the strategic content, strategic context, operational processes and outcome. The results of the study indicted that the constituency faces a number of challenges in strategy implementation. The key areas where challenges were identified included mainly the strategy formulation process where the study indicated that it was not fully participatory. Organizational structure and leadership were also pointed out as major challenges to strategy implementation. Members of the CDF committees operate with no regard to the structure and normally overlap in their roles. The leadership although committed to implementing the strategy has not succeeded in rallying the support of all the LDCs to strategy implementation. Communication, resource allocation and the human resource which comprise the operational factors were also identified as major challenges. There are no proper communication channels that can ensure information reaches the grassroots effectively. Strategy implementation is further hampered by inadequate resources. The allocation from the CDF Board is not enough to meet the demand in terms of the projects to be implemented. Hiring of the human resource is haphazard and appointing people to serve in the CDFC is based on political alignment. A proper reward and support system to motivate personnel involved in strategy implementation is lacking. There is a common practice of flouting the policies and rules that are supposed to guide the management of the CDF funds. The result has been lack of consensus on project implementation in certain areas of the constituency which affects development. Although these challenges are being addressed through appropriate measures, the biggest challenge remains inadequate funding which can be addressed by increasing the CDF allocation and mobilizing resources from other development partners and the local community. It is recommended that a further research be conducted on the best practices adopted in the implementation of the strategic plans. This will bring out issues on transparency and accountability and whether the current CDF structures ensure efficient implementation of the fund.