An Assessment of Public Participation in Budget Making and its Contribution to Community Empowerment: A Case of Makueni Constituency, Makueni County, Kenya

Abstract

According to the Kenyan Constitution, public participation is a requirement for community-driven development and decision-making forums to ensure local ownership and sustainability of interventions. The lack of civic participation (PP) in devolved governance poses a challenge for community empowerment, with only a few counties implementing structured systems for PP on community projects and resource allocation. Makueni County has been recognized for effectively incorporating public participation (PP) into its budgeting processes for community development initiatives. However, residents face several challenges in engaging with public participation, and development committees often have limited influence over county initiatives. The purpose of this study was to assess public participation in budget-making and its contribution to community empowerment in Wote and Muvau/Kikumini Wards, Makueni Constituency, Makueni County, Kenya. The study aimed to achieve the following objectives: assess community members' perceptions of public participation in budget-making; evaluate the level of community involvement in budget-making; investigate the role of participatory budgeting in empowering community members; and identify barriers to public participation in the budget-making process. Guided by the Theory of Change and the Ladder of Citizen Participation, this descriptive research design involved a population of development committee members in Makueni County, with a sample size of 87 respondents. Additional insights were gathered from three key informants (KIs) and two focus group discussions (FGDs) comprising eight participants each from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs), area chiefs, and notable community members. Qualitative data were collected using interview guides and FGDs, while quantitative data were gathered through questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were analyzed using SPSS, with key themes identified for qualitative data analysis. The study found that a significant majority of respondents 63(72.41%) were aware of the public participation process in budget-making and actively participated in budget forums. Additionally, 65(75%) perceived that the selection of development committee members was merit-based, and 59(67.82%) felt empowered to make decisions during the budget-making process. Furthermore, 53(61.1%) understood the role of participatory budgeting and the opportunities available for public involvement. However, several barriers were identified, including limited financial resources, time constraints, and an overwhelming number of ideas that could not be implemented, leading to community disappointment. The research concluded that public participation is essential in budget-making processes. It is recommended that county leaders actively support participatory budgeting initiatives by enhancing communication strategies to inform residents about their involvement opportunities and establishing formal feedback mechanisms to demonstrate how community input influences budget decisions. Addressing barriers such as financial constraints and political interference will further strengthen public participation and empower communities in Makueni County.