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Governing without Citizens? A Comparative Analysis of Rural Local Governments' Capacity for Participatory Governance in Kenya and Uganda

DOI: 10.18535/sshj.v8i09.1312· Pages: 4920-4936· Vol. 8, No. 09, (2024)· Published: September 13, 2024
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Abstract

This comparative study examines the capacity for participatory governance in rural local governments of Kenya and Uganda. It focuses on the institutional structures, regulatory environments, and actual practices that enable or constrain citizen engagement in local decision-making processes. Decentralization theory, public participation theory, and governance theory underpin the research, which investigates the implementation of legal frameworks for public participation and identifies key factors impeding meaningful citizen involvement in governance. A qualitative, comparative case study approach reveals that while both countries have established comprehensive legal frameworks and mechanisms to promote public participation, reality often falls short of these aspirations. The study identifies several common barriers to effective citizen engagement: limited capacity of local authorities, information asymmetry, cultural barriers, the legacy of centralized governance, the digital divide, challenges in the decentralization process, political interference, poverty and illiteracy, persistence of patronage networks, and lack of effective accountability mechanisms. These factors collectively create a substantial gap between formal mandates for public participation and on-the-ground realities in rural areas. The research concludes with recommendations for policy reforms and institutional changes to enhance the participatory capacity of rural local governments, contributing to the broader discourse on decentralization and local governance in developing countries.

Keywords

phenomenologyself-awarenessphenomenological reductionEdmund Husserltranscendental phenomenological sphere.

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Author details
Fred Omweri
Kampala International University, Dept. Public Administration and Development Studies, Western Campus-Uganda
✉ Corresponding Author
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