Wawire, NashonNduta, Naomi Njoroge2024-08-212024-08-212024-02-062250-3153https://dx.doi.org/10.29322/IJSRP.14.02.2024.p14604https://erepository.mku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6223This 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.enSocial HeterogeneityDevelopment ProjectsLugari Sub CountyKakamega CountyArticle