Publication: Influence Of Social Heterogeneity On Performance Of Development Projects In Lugari Sub County, Kakamega County, In Kenya
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2024-02-06
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International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications
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Abstract
This study explored how social heterogeneity influenced
the performance of three specific development projects, namely
Western Kenya Community Driven Development and Flood
Mitigation Project, National Agricultural and Livestock Extension
Programme & Small Dairy Commercialization Programme within
Lugari, Kakamega County. Many studies have raised alarm on the
poor performance of donor funded projects and have advanced
different reasons as being responsible and so is this study. The
findings from this study aim at providing insight into the subject
of study and furthermore add new knowledge to the existing body
in the field of social development and more specifically on the
place of social interactions. The study employed a descriptive
research design where 94 households were sampled through
cluster sampling technique. It adopted a questionnaire as the tool
for collecting required data from the respondents. Data reliability
was ensured through administering a test and re-test on a pilot
scale to a group of individuals who exhibited similar
characteristics to the actual sample which brought out the same
results. Opinions were then sought from experts/lecturers in the
department of Social and Development Studies to establish the
validity of the adopted research instrument. Descriptive statistics
was used for analyzing the collected data. The collected data was
organized and analyzed through statistical package for social
sciences (SPSS) and MS Excel which supported to determine the
Sum, Mean and Standard deviation. The analyzed results were
presented in tables. It also confirmed level of influence for each of
the variables through a correlational test using Pearson product
moment which analyzed the data and p-value tested the
significance level. The analysis established that three variables;
economic, educational, and social capital diversities positively
influenced project performance while ethnic diversity had both a
positive and negative influence. This study also revealed that these
projects’ benefits accrued only to fewer people and still were not
long-lasting making the projects unsustainable. The study makes
the following recommendations: that ethnic diversity need to
clearly be understood and factored into the design and
implementation of projects if they are to achieve desired results.
Secondly, that deliberate effort by development agents should be
made to ensure the wealth status of project members does not take
over to undermine the desire by those from the lower economic
strata to express themselves and participate in collective initiatives
within their communities. Thirdly, that development agents becognizant of the twin role education levels play in shaping the
direction of a project where it could aid or thwart collective action.
Finally, that social capital building in its different forms is vital to
enhancing project performance, so this should be harnessed.
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Keywords
Social Heterogeneity, Development Projects, Lugari Sub County, Kakamega County