Effects of Community Awareness on Public Participation of Women in the Development Planning Processes in Awendo Sub County

Abstract

Public participation is a principle that has been given prominence in the Constitution of Kenya (2010). Participation should imbue all public affairs and be promoted by both genders acting in public interest. The Constitution sets key requirements for the legislature at both levels of government to provide frameworks for public participation in governance processes. The emphasis for feminist participation underscores the fact that the election of representatives does not negate the need for people to continuously be involved in governance processes. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of community awareness on public participation of women in the development planning processes in Awendo Sub County. The target population of the study was from the four administrative wards of Awendo Sub County, twenty (20) Religious leaders and local opinion leaders from each of the four wards selected randomly and four (4) members of County Assembly from Awendo Sub County. The target population was 57,724 participants. Using Krejcie& Morgan table, the sample size was three hundred and eighty two (382) people. Stratified sampling technique was used to partition the sample frame. Proportionate sampling was used to get the actual sample of each stratum relative to the overall sample size. Simple random technique was used to select the specific size from the strata of the target population. Both quantitative and qualitative data was collected, using interview schedules for key informants and questionnaires respectively. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the help of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPPS) version 22. Qualitative data was transcribed and reported according to emergent themes and narratives while Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Data was presented by the use of tables.The study concluded that the level of public participation is highly dependent on level of public awareness and vice versa.