Civil Society Budgetary Controls and Service Delivery in Bungoma County, Kenya
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Date
2025-11
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Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Civil society has a significant stake in governance, and a substantial role is expected in the delivery of government policy plans regarding social schemes, the provision of public services, and grassroots utilization. Its influence cannot be underestimated by policy makers, practitioners and scholars. This research was conducted with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of budget control strategies employed by civil society in enhancing public sector service delivery in Bungoma County, Kenya. The specific objectives outlined the correlation between budget monitoring and service delivery, evaluated the effect of petitions on service delivery, and determined the significance of consultative forums for service delivery in Bungoma County. The study was anchored in budget theory, budgetary control theory and the economic theory of market socialism. This study used a descriptive research design, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative approaches to examine the role of civil society organizations in implementing government projects and the due effect on budgetary control and service delivery. The target population consisted of county government employees, county assembly members, and civil society members engaged in county budgetary control over a period of three financial years. A sample size of 138 participants (12% drawn from the accessible population of 1117) was arrived at through stratified random and purposive sampling techniques particularly for County Assembly respondents. Gathering of primary data was attained through online questionnaires containing both closed and open-ended questions. A total of 134 responses were received through an online questionnaire representing 97% response rate. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics for quantitative data, while qualitative data from interviews was examined using thematic content analysis. The study showed a positive influence on the three variables civil society budget monitoring, petitions and consultative forums on service delivery in Bungoma County. The effect of consultative forums was more profound compared to budget monitoring and petitions, giving the impression that consultative forums accounted for a larger portion of the variation in service delivery compared to the two other factors studied. The relationship between the variables and service delivery was, however, not very strong, indicating that other factors beyond the scope of this study also contributed to the overall outcome of service delivery. The study recommends an in-depth investigation of these factors and a comparison of results. It also recommends the need for a holistic approach in enhancing service delivery. The study concludes that strengthening budget monitoring, petitions and consultative forums is a viable strategy but requires all budget stakeholders including the government to adopt other approaches to address other determinants of service delivery.
Description
A Research Project Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences of Kenyatta University, November 2025.
Supervisor
1. Dr. Wilson Muna