Perception of members of county assembly on participatory communication in the budget-making process: A case of Makueni County, Kenya

Résumé

The research sought to understand the perceptions of Members of County Assembly (MCAs) on participatory communication in the budget-making process within the context of Makueni County, Kenya. This study is also based on the context of the 2010 Constitution that institutionalized public participation as a core principle of governance. While Makueni County’s reputation is picked as a pioneer in participatory governance, limited attention has been paid to MCAs’ perception of the effectiveness of communication methods that facilitate citizen involvement in budget decisions. The study was anchored on both public sphere and deliberative democracy theories, which posit that citizen engagement is driven by perceived influence, access to information, and accountability. The study adopted a pragmatic mixed-methods design combining surveys and interviews. A census of 47 MCAs was targeted, with an 85.1% response rate, supplemented by key informant interviews with county officials and civil society representatives. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Findings of the study revealed that public barazas (community meetings) dominated as the primary communication method (52.5%), with broader combinations including stakeholder forums and social media platforms, as well as surveys employed to varying degrees. The regression analysis indicated that while stakeholder engagement was positively associated with effective budget outcomes (β=0.219, p<0.05), overreliance on existing participatory methods had a weak negative relationship with effectiveness (β=-0.257, p<0.01), signaling the need for diversification of approaches. The study noted that MCAs generally rated participatory methods as effective (90%), citing inclusivity of youth and marginalized groups, timely consultations, and regular updates through multiple channels; however, digital platforms were found to be significantly underutilized (75% agreed), civil society and private sector actors were minimally engaged, and feedback mechanisms, though present, required strengthening. The researchers concluded that while participatory communication has enhanced inclusivity, transparency, and dialogue in Makueni’s budget-making process, critical gaps persist in digital adoption, stakeholder diversity, and communication effectiveness. The study further recommends broadening stakeholder representation to include civil society and private sector actors, strengthening digital infrastructure and MCA training to expand citizen outreach, and improving feedback systems to ensure citizens’ inputs are acknowledged and acted upon, thus advancing inclusive and equitable as well as accountable budget governance.