Journal of Public Policy and Governance

Resource Allocation and Access to Early Childhood Development Learning in Samburu County, Kenya

Gabriel Lekaaso, Dr. Wilson Muna — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Access to quality Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) is recognized as a cornerstone for lifelong learning and human capital development. In Kenya, the devolution of education functions to county governments has heightened the need for equitable and efficient resource allocation to support ECDE programs. This study examined how resource allocation influences access to education for ECDE learners in Samburu County, Kenya. The research employed a descriptive survey design targeting 564 respondents, including ECDE teachers, head teachers, Quality Assurance and Standards Officers (QASOs), and School Management Committees (SMCs). Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires and interview guides, with a response rate of 76.5 percent. Descriptive statistics revealed that most respondents perceived county funding for ECDE as inadequate, with low mean scores reported for teacher recruitment, training, and Parental contribution. Regression analysis showed a weak but positive correlation between resource allocation and access to education, although the effect was not statistically significant when controlling for other variables. Qualitative findings highlighted persistent challenges, including limited infrastructure, inadequate learning materials, and overreliance on non-governmental contributions. The study concludes that while resource allocation is critical for ECDE access, its effectiveness is mediated by complementary factors such as monitoring, technical capacity, and community engagement. The paper recommends improved budget prioritization, transparent disbursement, regular teacher training, and strategic public–private partnerships to strengthen early childhood education outcomes.

Terrorism Incidences and Its Effects on Sustainable Tourism in Lamu County, Kenya

Khadija Fumo Khalifa, Heather Kipchumba — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In Lamu County, the tourist industry is a critical source of economic earnings. Still, it faces significant challenges due to security risks such as terrorist incidences, land disputes, environmental degradation, and socio-economic instability. These threats not only disrupt tourist arrivals and revenue generation but also pose long-term sustainability concerns for the region. The study covered the period from 2014 to 2024 and examined the effects of terrorism incidences on sustainable tourism in Lamu County. Grounded in Crisis Management and Sustainable Development Theories, the descriptive design was used, drawing data from a target population of 497 stakeholders, including security agencies, hotel operators, and tourism entities sample of 105 respondents was eventually used. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used to analyze the data. The study found that terrorism incidences are a critical factor influencing sustainable tourism. The study therefore concluded that terrorism incidences are measurable drivers of tourism outcomes. The study recommended that security collaboration be strengthened through enhanced community policing, intelligence sharing, and coordination between government agencies and local communities.

The Impact of Public Awareness and Participation on Kenyan National Assembly Legislative Process

Caroline Njeri Gikibi, Dr. Heather Eddah Kipchumba — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Public participation is a crucial pillar of democratic governance, ensuring transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness in decision-making. In a functioning democracy, the creation of laws through legislative processes is not merely a technical procedure, it is a collective endeavour that demands the people's voice. Public involvement motivates the government to enhance transparency, engagement, and responsibility. This research investigated how public awareness impacts public engagement and influences the legislative process of bills in Kenya's National Assembly. This paper examines how the process of public participation, the design of public participation, and the literacy levels influence public awareness of the legislative processes in Kenya’s National Assembly. The study was based on the notion of good governance and participatory democracy. This study employed a descriptive research design to investigate the role of public awareness in legislative engagement. Data was gathered through structured questionnaires distributed to a targeted group comprising staff of Kenya’s National Assembly, stakeholders involved in bill formulation, and public members from Nyandarua County selected using the Slovin Formula to ensure representativeness. The study analysed the quantitative data using the multinomial logistic regression model, a generalised linear model used to check whether the explanatory variables, including the demographic characteristics, were a significant fit to the model and sufficiently explained the passage of Kenyan parliamentary bills. These variables were found to be significant to the model using the Likelihood Ratio Test. Notably, the study revealed that a majority of respondents lacked awareness of both public participation as well as the Children’s Bill 2021. This lack of awareness highlights the need for improved strategies to increase public involvement. The study establishes a significant relationship between public awareness, participatory structure, and engagement in discussion using empirical data, theoretical insights, and case studies. The findings underscore the need for enhanced civic education, strategic communication, well-structured public participation processes, and policy reforms to bridge the gap in participation.

Resource Allocation and Solid Waste Management: A Case of Nairobi City County, Kenya

Michael Kasilon, Patrick Mbataru — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The management of waste remains a major challenge in developing countries. Globally, countries continue to struggle with the generation, disposal, and overall management of millions of tons of waste in cities, and the need to manage the same sustainably. The management of this waste has attracted enhanced attention as tons upon tons of waste lie uncollected across streets, which inconveniences human life, pollutes the environment, and poses a greater public health risk to the population. Municipal authorities’ limited capacity to collect and dispose of solid waste safely, coupled with the exponential growth of African cities' population, has brought about the growing problem of managing solid waste. Nairobi City, with an estimated population of over 4.4 million, generates daily solid waste of about 2,400 metric tons. At least 20% of this waste is plastic. The capacity to manage all this waste effectively, a rapid increase in the population, and a myriad of challenges in the management of solid waste, increases the degradation of the environment. Inadequate financing, limited appropriate infrastructure and technology, ineffective public sensitization and awareness of proper sanitary practices, and limited good governance practices remain the critical challenges that the management of solid waste faces. One of the key components of effective solid waste management is proper resource allocation. Lack of resources leads to improper solid waste management, which in turn causes unprecedented environmental problems. This study sought to investigate the influence of resource allocation on solid waste management in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Resource Dependence theory anchored the study. Descriptive research design, simple random and stratified sampling techniques were used to meet the research objectives requirements. The study targeted 300 members of staff who were drawn from the solid waste department of the County and NEMA officials. Data was collected through a closed questionnaire from a sample size of 90. Of these, there were 74 respondents representing a response rate of 82.2%. From the results, it emerged that resource allocation was significant to the management of solid waste. Proper resource allocation was found to control overspending and lead to more efficiency in solid waste management.