Influence of Stakeholder Participation on Performance of : a Case of Co-operative Societies in Bomet County, Kenya

Abstract

Project stakeholders always anticipates projects which they have participated in to perform well. Stakeholder participation has been identified as one effective solution to sustainability of projects. Stakeholder participation is a re-known instrumental input towards effectiveness and efficiency in development of projects. This study aimed at assessment of the extent of the stakeholders’ participation and their influence on the success of the dairy development programmes with focus on operational projects of milk cooling plants initiated by cooperative societies in Bomet County. The study sought to determine: the influence of stakeholders’ participation in project selection, planning, implementation and project monitoring and evaluation on these dairy projects in Bomet County: a case of milk cooling plants in Bomet County. The study was guided by the following objectives; the influence of stakeholders’ participation in milk cooling projects in project identification; to establish the influence of stakeholders’ participation in the project’s planning and design process; To determine the influence of stakeholders’ participation in project implementation process; To establish the influence of stakeholders’ participation in the project’s monitoring and evaluation. The study adopted a descriptive research design. Stratification and simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 150 of the total 1,250 active members of cooperatives with operational milk cooling plants. A further 50 stakeholders representing the sponsors, facilitators and milk processors was selected using the criteria of the stakeholders who are directly involved in these projects and have reliable and useful information. This did make a total of 200 stakeholders. Data was collected using questionnaires and interviews schedules and quantitative data was coded. The data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The finding did have theoretical and practical implications on future. The significance of the study is that it will be used as a basis for discussions on major roles of stakeholders on performance of projects not only in Bomet County but anywhere else. The study established that stakeholder participation on identification, planning, design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation does significantly contribute to project performance of the milk cooling plant project. This study did also act as a guide to setting up proper strategies in improving the stakeholders’ inputs towards manifestations of better project’s performance.