Effect of Community Engagement at Different Project Phases on Community Projects Sustainability in Kenya:

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.