The Role of Popular Participation and Community Work Ethic in Rural Development: The Case of Nandi District, Kenya

This paper examines the performance of rural community development projects in relation to the work ethic, gender and the level of participation in the process of rural development among the Nandi people of western Kenya. Data for the study were obtained from_a survey of 25 randomly-selected community development projects and a sample of 305 respondents involved in these projects. Rural development projects were found to achieve on average 53 per cent of their objectives and 56 per cent of their operational effectiveness. Overall, rural Nandi people demonstrated on a 4range Likert Scale an average measure (2.86) in their community work ethic and an average measure (2.38) in their actual involvement and participation in rural development projects. Policymakers, development planners and implementers should ensure that people in this community are made aware that their level of work ethic, involvement and participation is responsible for the poor performance of their community development projects. If the Nandi rural economy is to be revived, agents of change ought to guide the rural population towards involvement and full participation in projects which are meant to improve tfieir welfare.