A Dissertation Submitted to the School of Public Administration and Management (SoPAM) as a requirement for award of the Master’s Degree in Public Administration (MPA) offered by Mzumbe University
This study examined the factors affecting citizen participation in Village Assembly in Akeri and Patandi Villages at Meru District council. Specifically, the study explored the process of citizen participation in Village Assembly, identified the levels of citizen participation in VA, challenges that impede active citizen participation in Village Assembly and identify means of enhancing citizen participation in Village Assembly.
The study area was Akeri and Patandi Villages at Meru District Council. Respondents of this study were selected from all the adult people of Akeri and Patandi Villages, government officials and local political leaders. A sample composed of 78 respondents who were selected using purposive and simple random sampling techniques. The researcher interviewed selected government officials and local political leaders and also passed through required documents and distributed questionnaires to residents for collecting the data. Descriptive analysis was used to analyse the collected data.
The study findings revealed that, Akeri and Patandi failed to schedule VA timetable as well as they poorly kept the VA documents contrary to the required procedure. Generally, citizen participation in VA is poor due to lack government responsiveness, lack of government transparency, and unclear VA time table. Increasing government responsiveness and transparency, increasing citizen knowledge and awareness on participation, ensure VA time table known earlier to citizen, accountability to irresponsible local leaders, motivation to local leaders and improving working conditions to VG will help to enhance active citizen participation in VA.
Using the findings as foundation, the study recommends that efforts should be increased to ensure effective citizen participation in Village Assembly if the government has to provide services for the people and not to the people as it is. Also, the study recommends for a broader study to be conducted in the country.