Assessing Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Community Participation in Constituency Development Fund Projects in Majengo Informal Settlement, Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

Community participation is central to the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in Kenya, which allocates 2.5% of national resources to local development initiatives aimed at addressing poverty and inequality. While the CDF seeks to empower communities through localized project funding, the Majengo informal settlement in Nairobi County continues to face challenges in achieving equitable and meaningful participation. This study examined the socio‑economic factors influencing community participation in CDF projects in Majengo, guided by four objectives: to assess the level of participation, to establish the social and economic factors shaping it, and to recommend strategies for enhancing engagement. Arnstein’s Ladder of Participation provided the theoretical lens for understanding levels of involvement and underlying power dynamics. A descriptive research design was employed, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study population comprised 6,562 households, with a sample of 103 respondents including residents, project committee members, local officials, institution heads, and businesspeople. A multifaceted sampling strategy was used: simple random sampling for households, purposive sampling for knowledgeable informants, and snowball sampling to reach less accessible participants. Data were collected through surveys and document reviews, and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS (version 29.0.2) alongside thematic analysis in NVivo. The findings revealed a significant gap between awareness (63.1%) and active participation (43.1%), with involvement largely limited to tokenistic forms such as information and consultation. Dissatisfaction with participation (75%) and poor infrastructure (82.5%) further discouraged engagement. Socio‑economic barriers particularly low literacy, widespread poverty, and inadequate infrastructure constrained meaningful involvement. Recommendations included capacity‑building programs, infrastructure improvements, inclusive governance, and alternative financing models. While the study was limited to Majengo, its insights contribute to both academic discourse and policy practice, offering strategies for strengthening CDF implementation in informal settlements in Kenya and comparable contexts.