Participatory Communication in Infrastructure Project: A Case Study of Lokichar-Nadapal Road Corridor in Turkana County

Abstract

Participatory communication in development projects has evolved to emphasize strategies such as trust-building, stakeholder dialogue, and risk assessment to foster inclusive decision-making in order to achieve long-term objectives and sustainable goals. Empirical evidence supports the effectiveness of these strategies when they are properly implemented. This research therefore sought to interrogate the role of participatory communication in road corridor infrastructure with a keen focus on the Lokichar-Nadapal Road Corridor in Turkana County, Kenya. The key objective was to interrogate the availability, absence, or inadequacy of participatory communication approaches in the conceptualisation and construction of the Lokichar-Nadapal Road Corridor in Turkana County, Kenya, and its contribution to enabling the project achieve the desired outcomes. The researcher looked at the Participatory Communication Theory (PCT) and previous studies to find four main ideas of the participatory approach: dialogue, participation, cultural identity, and empowerment. The researcher then created a framework with three important parts: dependent, independent, and intervening variables. The researcher employed a mixed-method research design by considering quantitative and qualitative data to achieve the set goal and enable the researcher to triangulate the findings to enhance the data's validity and results. Quantitative data was collected using a structured standard questionnaire, and qualitative data was collected through structured interviews with key informants of the project. The target population was a total of 378 Turkana residents aged 25 years and above, and the researcher employed stratified sampling to divide the heterogeneous population into several groups, ensuring a representative sample. Stratified sampling strategy was employed in data collection. The findings of this study demonstrate that the conceptualization and construction of the Lokichar-Nadapal Road Corridor was successfully implemented and underscored the importance of participatory communication in infrastructure projects. Public meeting forums, community-driven dialogue by the leadership, and internet and social media platforms, as well as traditional modes of communication, enhanced awareness of the project, encouraged community buy-in, and promoted dialogue, inclusivity, participation, trust, and transparency. Emphasis on cultural sensitivity and collaboration in decision-making enhanced ownership and project sustainability. However, the study identified several key gaps: limited reach through traditional media platforms, such as television and print media; a scarcity of public meeting forums, held only once a month, which did not allow enough time for dialogue and feedback; and language barrier.