The role of community development (CDF) in poverty reduction : A case study of Mwatate Constituency

Abstract

Poverty is the scarcity or state of lack of certain amount of material possessions, support or money. It is a state of the poor. There are global issues that cause poverty. Such causes of poverty and inequality are no doubt real. But deeper and more global issues that cause poverty are often less discussed. Behind the increasing interconnectedness promised by globalization are global decisions, policies and practices. These are typically influenced, driven or formulated by the rich and powerful especially in Africa. The Kenyan government came up with interventions to help curb poverty in areas that are marginalized and where national government could not reach effectively. That is when the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) was introduced with the passage of the CDF Act 2003 by the 9th Parliament of Kenya. The CDF Act provides that the government set aside at 2.5% of its ordinary revenue for disbursement under the CDF program. It was aimed to achieve equitable distribution of development resources across regions and to control imbalances in regional development brought about by partisan politics. It targeted all constituency-level development projects, particularly those aiming to combat poverty at the grassroots. The CDF program has facilitated the putting up new health, education facilities and constructing water projects in all parts of the country, including remote areas that were overlooked during funds allocation in national budgets. The study sought to find out the role of CDF in poverty reduction in Mwatate Constituency. The study utilized descriptive research design to yield both qualitative and quantitative data required to answer research question. Data analysis was done using the SPSS software. The finding of this study requires that the government should audit the CDF projects and see their sustainability before channeling more money into the same idea. It is recommended that more sensitization should be made to the community for them to be aware of the government’s intervention in poverty reduction and how the community will benefit from this.