Decentralised planning and implementation:a case study of kenyan district focus for rural development

Abstract

It is common knowledge that many African countries inherited a colonial administrative/development framework which has been countffproductive to the aspirations of the indigenous population. The adminstrative and technical tools of development inherited at independence were largely of a 1 top-down' nature so designed as to accommodate the objectives of the \ colonial leadership. This administrative and development framework has been for a long timeLused wholesale or with /been minor ad j u st.me nt s . It is an established fact that if governments are going to respond more readily to the needs of their rural population they will have to establish a greater presence and solicit the participation of the masses at grassroot level. Kenya has in the p~st tried with varying amount of political commitment to adapt a 'bottom-up' approach instead of 'top-down' approach.