Public participation of women in the development planning process in Awendo sub-county, Migori county, Kenya

Abstract

Public participation holds a crucial place in the Constitution of Kenya (2010), signifying its utmost significance. The Constitution mandates the establishment of comprehensive structures for fostering public participation within the governance processes at the national and county levels of government, outlining essential requisites for the legislative bodies at each level. The accentuation on women's engagement underscores a fundamental truth: electing representatives does not diminish the imperative for the populace to remain engaged in the multifaceted tapestry of governance proceedings. This study sought to explore the factors influencing women's public participation in the development planning process in Awendo Sub County of Migori County, Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to assess whether community awareness influences women’s public participation in the sub-county development planning processes, examine whether the demographic factors influence public participation of women in development planning processes, assess whether behavioral factors influence public participation of women in development planning processes and to discover whether economic factors influence public participation of women in development planning processes. Callahan’s effective community participation theory, which informed the conceptual framework, guided the study. Data was collected from 382 respondents from a target population of 57,724 women in the Awendo sub-county of Migori County, Kenya. Data collection sites were identified through the multi-stage sampling procedure, and a proportionate quota was assigned for each site. Respondents were randomly selected through the simple random technique. Data was collected from the main respondents using a questionnaire and from key informants using interviews. Quantitative data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics V22.0 software, and descriptive statistics were presented in Tables and graphs. Qualitative data was transcribed and reported according to emergent themes and narratives. All ethical considerations, including informed consent, anonymity, and confidentiality, were strictly followed. The study results showed that radio, local TV, and door-to-door campaigns were the most common tools to inform residents of public participation. Demographic characteristics influence the public participation of women. Behavioral and economic factors also influence the public participation of women. The study concludes that public participation highly depends on public awareness and vice versa; demographic characteristics influence women's public participation in the development planning process in Awendo Sub County. Behavioral factors influenced public participation in women's development planning processes. Economic factors affect the public participation of women in development planning processes in Awendo Sub County. This study's findings can develop policies and strategies for the national and county government to enhance public participation. The study recommends that a similar study be conducted to assess the effectiveness of the initiated citizen engagement measures in Migori County. Robust initiatives must be implemented to raise a general understanding of the development planning process to boost women's public participation. The development planning process needs to be tailored/modified to account for the changing nature of women’s demographic features, such as marital status, education level, women's responsibilities in the family, and community culture. Coordinating government agencies need to inspire trust, fairness, clarity, and transparency (in their work) level of coordination and involvement in their work to enhance the public participation of women in public participation.