Abstract:
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of community engagement at different
project phases on community projects sustainability in Kenya focusing on Makueni
County. Specifically, the study determined the effect of community engagement in
the planning phase, community engagement in the implementation phase and
community engagement in the monitoring and evaluation phase on community
projects sustainability. Participatory development theory and institutional theory
were adopted This study, guided by a positivist philosophy and a quantitative
approach, employed a descriptive research design. It targeted 408 workers from
various departments within Makueni County, selecting respondents through simple
random sampling. Primary data were collected via questionnaires, while secondary
data came from document reviews. Data analysis was performed using descriptive
and inferential statistics with SPSS version 26. The study revealed that most
respondents felt the community has ample opportunities to provide input during
project planning and that their feedback is incorporated into the project plan. This
study unveiled that community members are actively engaged in project
implementation, with a substantial number of respondents confirming this
involvement. Also, the study depicted that community members actively participate
in monitoring and evaluation, with many respondents confirming that community
feedback is used to assess project performance and that outcomes are shared with the
community. The study found strong positive correlations between community
engagement and project sustainability in all phases: planning (r = 0.811, p = 0.000),
implementation (r = 0.786, p = 0.000), and M&E (r = 0.779, p = 0.000). The study
recommends that Makueni County implement structured mechanisms for community
involvement during the planning phase, enhance engagement strategies throughout
the implementation phase, and prioritize transparency and community participation
during the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) phase. Additionally, future research
should explore the critical role of leadership in facilitating effective community
involvement to further improve engagement and project sustainability.
