NEXUS BETWEEN CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN BUNGOMA DISTRICT SINCE 1960

Abstract

Citizen participation is one of the most needed approaches to achieve socioeconomic development in the world today. It is the dream of every country to have an economy that recognizes the contribution of citizens towards socioeconomic development through participatory approach as a way of eradicating poverty and other problems faced in the community. Citizen participation in Bungoma District is institutionalized and various organs are held responsible for promoting it in cognizant of the County Government Act. However, key institutions have not fully embraced citizen participation to promote socioeconomic development hence its efficacy is questionable. The study will therefore interrogate the nexus between citizen participation and socioeconomic development in Bungoma District since 1960. Citizen participation and socioeconomic development from a historical perspective enables its in-depth understanding of the roles, challenges and opportunities and its impact as witnessed in Bungoma District. The literature reviewed reveals that citizen participation levels are low in decision making towards socioeconomic development. The study’s general objective will be to interrogate the nexus between citizen participation and socioeconomic development in Bungoma District since 1960. The specific objectives will be to: historicize citizen participation in Bungoma District since 1960, examine the nature and mechanisms of citizen participation in Bungoma District Since 1960, assess the role of citizen participation in socioeconomic development in Bungoma District, evaluate the challenges and opportunities of citizen participation towards socioeconomic development and investigate the impact of citizen participation on socioeconomic development in Bungoma District. The study will be based on two theories: modernization theory expounded by Marx Weber and the participatory development theory propounded by Goethe and discussed extensively by Richard Tarnas. The theoretical framework attempts to provide the basis of development and progress in societies considering the participatory approaches. The study will employ both historical and descriptive research designs. Purposive sampling, snowball sampling and stratified random sampling techniques will be used to select respondents. Data will be collected through questionnaires, interview schedules and Focus Group Discussions. Secondary data will be obtained from libraries of higher institutions of learning, the national archives and selected websites. Qualitative methods will be used to analyze data through the descriptive and thematic approach. It is hoped that the findings of the study will be useful to the government and policy makers in deciding on the most promising strategies for future citizen participation in decision making towards socioeconomic development.