CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT ON SERVICE DELIVERY IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IN KERICHO COUNTY, KENYA
Abstract
Citizen engagement has become an important element of effective public governance because it promotes accountability, responsiveness, and the alignment of public services with citizens’ needs. In devolved governance systems, agricultural service delivery requires active involvement of farmers and other stakeholders in identifying priorities, contributing to agricultural programmes, and providing feedback on services. However, despite the establishment of public participation frameworks in Kenya, concerns remain regarding the extent to which citizen engagement influences agricultural service delivery outcomes. This study examined the effect of citizen engagement on service delivery in the agricultural sector in Kericho County, Kenya. The study was anchored on Stakeholder Theory and New Public Value Theory. A descriptive research design was adopted, targeting agricultural stakeholders including smallholder farmers, agricultural extension officers, farmer cooperative representatives, agriculture committee members, and community-based organization representatives. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires and interview schedules. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and regression analysis, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The findings revealed that citizen engagement positively and significantly influenced agricultural service delivery. Descriptive results showed that respondents generally agreed that opportunities existed for participation in agricultural forums, consultations with extension officers, and expression of views, with an overall mean score of 3.37 (SD = 1.04). Pearson correlation analysis established a strong positive and statistically significant relationship between citizen engagement and agricultural service delivery (r = 0.718, p < 0.001). Regression analysis further demonstrated that citizen engagement had a positive and statistically significant effect on service delivery (β = 0.417, p < 0.001). The study concludes that citizen engagement is an important factor in agricultural service delivery by enabling farmers and stakeholders to communicate their needs, share local knowledge, and interact with agricultural service providers. The study recommends strengthening citizen engagement platforms, improving communication on stakeholder contributions, and ensuring that recommendations generated through participation forums are appropriately considered in agricultural programmes.
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