Factors Influencing Sustainablity of Constituency Development Fund Infrastructure Projects in Kenya: a Case of Day Secondary Schools, Laikipia West Constituency, Laikipia County

Abstract

Despite the increased funding in the Education sector by the Laikipia West Constituency Development Fund, most of her day secondary school CDF infrastructure projects have not been completed and sustained. This research therefore sought to assess the factors influencing sustainability of Community Development Fund Infrastructure Projects in Kenya: A case of secondary day schools, Laikipia West Constituency, Laikipia County. Though the CDF scheme has been in existence since 2003, the infrastructure remains inadequate and unsustainable. The study had four objectives: influence of funding level; influence of leadership turnover; influence of literacy level of local PMCs; and influence of community involvement on sustainability of day secondary school CDF infrastructure projects in Laikipia West Constituency of Laikipia County, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive survey approach that combined both quantitative and qualitative techniques. The target population included respondents involved in the implementation CDF infrastructure Projects for secondary day schools in Laikipia West Constituency. These included local PMC members, the principals, chiefs, government representatives and CDF Contractors whose total was 145. Stratified random sampling was used to arrive at the sample. Yamane formula was used to arrive at the sample size that was 48. The study used structured questionnaire and a key informant interview to collect primary data. A pilot study to ensure validity and reliability was done in five schools in the neighbouring Laikipia East Constituency. Secondary data was also obtained from past reports and publications. Computer software, Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to do descriptive statistics. Results were presented in frequency and percentage tables. More than 50% of the respondents stated that level of funding, leadership turnover, literacy level and community involvement affected up to 25% of the projects completed on time, within budget and with the expected quality. The four factors, thus, significantly influenced timely completion, conformity to budget and Quality of the project; and hence sustainability of the projects; and hence sustainability of the Day Secondary School CDF infrastructure projects in Laikipia West constituency, Laikipia County. Most of the respondents in the area of study were not satisfied with the literacy levels of the CDF infrastructure project management committee in identification of projects, appraisal for procurement, negotiations and approval, implementation, evaluation standards and current distribution of projects. The study recommends that CDF funding mechanism be improved for more sustainable projects. The CDF act should also be amended to prevent incoming leaders from terminating projects that are already in the process of implementation. In addition, literacy levels be highly regarded during the recruitment of PMC members while implementers should put effort to ensure communities are more involved in implementation and evaluation of CDF infrastructure projects. This study has obtained data that could be helpful to schools administration, local administration, the CDF board and the national government in their efforts to increase sustainability of CDF infrastructure of projects. It has also added to the body of knowledge that would proof beneficial to academicians, researchers and students interested in the subject matter of the study.