Factors Affecting Fulfillment of The Strategic Participatory Development Communication in The Ack Diocese of Mount Kenya South

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the factors that influenced the fulfilment of the strategic participatory development communication (PDC) at the Anglican Church of Kenya Diocese of Mount Kenya South. Study objectives were to; examine the participatory development communication strategies used to support development projects, examine society engagement in the strategic participatory development communication fulfilment process and to identify challenges of strategic participatory development communication fulfilment in the diocese. The study used a case study research design and the target population was the residents of Ndeiya ward which is one of the seven administrative wards of Limuru constituency within Kiambu County. Purposive sampling techniques were used to select a sample size of 38 respondents. Data was gathered using interviews, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), content analysis and field observation. The collected data were organised and analysed through content and thematic analysis. The results revealed that Anglican development services (ADS) engaged the society in its development initiative by integrating equity in its programming through participatory processes and communication activities. However, the donor-driven project design had a set timeline which allowed for the project's implementation but did not enhance the fulfilment of an ideal PDC approach. The challenges of strategic PDC fulfilment included suspicious by stakeholders that the PDC and ADS project might not be good for them. Conflicting and competing interests as well as low education levels of stakeholders that challenged the PDC strategy fulfilment. The study concluded that although participatory communication generated dialogue and empowered project beneficiaries, the nature of participation for project fulfilment was not clear. The study recommends that programme development designers, coordinators and facilitators engage with strict adherence to existing cultural traditions so as to advantage all participants in communities through traditional means and use of traditional ceremonies.