Effects of Devolved Governance on the Economic Development of Marsabit County, Kenya

Abstract

Devolved governance has become a political response to the ills plaguing fragile and plural societies, such as, conflicts, inequalities, rent seeking, economic stagnation, corruption and inefficient use of public resources in Kenya. The purpose of the stud y was to determine the effect of devolved governance on the economic development of Marsabit County in Kenya. The study was guided by neo-institutional theory, Sequential theory of decentralization and sustainable development theory. This study employed descriptive survey research design. The target population consisted of 300 respondents who were county officers, non-governmental organization and county residents. A sample size of 150 respondents was calculated using Creswell formulae. The research used stratified random samplingprocedure to gather the information from the sampled respondents. The reliability of the test instruments was determined using Cronbach alpha coefficient to test for the internal consistency of the items. A reliability coefficient of 0.79 was established which was deemed ideal for the study. The research study used questionnaires as the main data collection instruments. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used when analyzing, processing and presenting research data. A multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate the effects of devolved governance on the economic development of Marsabit County, Kenya. The study found that devolved governance has brought economic development in the county. This is indicated by the fact that devolved government has brought infrastructural development in the county. In addition, it found that devolved governance has brought conducive environment for business, this is because there has been an increase in the business operating in the county. The study also found that provision of social services which has be brought to the county level, thus reducing the time used in the provision of the services. Finally, devolved governance has brought economic development in the county in that there increased efficiency and effectiveness in the use of public resources thus reducing wastage of resources. The study recommends that the county government to embrace economic development inform of infrastructure development that will open up areas that are productive hence, increasing the revenue in the county. Also, the study recommends that they waive the licenses and limit the number of permits that are required to conduct business in the county so that they can have more investors within the county which increase the development of the county. Finally, the study recommends that transparency of all the funds used in the development of the county be key tool for efficiency management of the resources.