Citizen Participation and Implementation of Local Government Policies in Mogadishu-Somalia

ABSTRACT 

This research examined the relationship between citizens’ participation and implementation of local government policies in Mogadishu, Somalia. The research was guided by three objectives; (i) to examine the effect of participatory agenda setting on implementation of local government policies in Mogadishu, Somalia, (ii) to establish how participatory decision making affects the implementation of local government policies in Mogadishu, Somalia, (iii) to examine citizens’ participation in planning affects the implementation of local government policies in Mogadishu, Somalia. This study took in account the Institutional theory developed by Kraft (1998) which underlines rational myths, isomorphism, and legitimacy. The deeper and more resilient aspects of social structure are the major characteristics of this theory of which the rules, norms, and routines, become established as authoritative guidelines for social behavior. The study was descriptive survey research design and it involved a total population of 143 respondents; out of which 108 were identified as the sample size. Simple random sampling was used to determine the participants in the study. The questionnaires was preferred for this study because this enables the researcher reach a larger number of respondents within a short time, thus can make it easier to collect relevant information. Findings indicated that; local citizens’ participation in setting of agenda significantly affect the implementation of local government policies in Mogadishu Somalia, there is a significant effect citizens’ decision making has on implementation of local government policies in Mogadishu Somalia, findings proved a positive significant effect community members’ participation in planning has on implementation of local government policies in Mogadishu Somalia. The following were the conclusions; that citizens’ participation in local citizens’ participation in setting of agenda significantly affect the implementation of local government policies in Mogadishu Somalia, citizens’ decision making increases the implementation of local government policies in the local government of Mogadishu Somalia. Improvement in community members’ participation in planning increases implementation of local government policies in Mogadishu Somalia, and it was concluded that lack of any clear and promising policies that will help to overcome the issues which trigger missmanagement, violence and youth exploitation are the major challenges xiii hindering community participation in implementation of local government policies in Mogadishu, Somalia.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ........................................................................................................i

APPROVAL .............................................................................................................ii

DEDICATION.........................................................................................................iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENT............................................................................................. iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................. v

LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................ix

LIST OF FIGURES...................................................................................................x

LIST OF ACRONYMS .............................................................................................xi

ABSTRACT............................................................................................................xii

CHAPTER ONE........................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................1

1.0 Introduction............................................................................................................ 1

1.1 Background to the study ......................................................................................... 1

1.1.1 Historical Perspective............................................................................................ 1

1.1.2 Theoretical Perspective......................................................................................... 5

1.1.3 Conceptual perspective......................................................................................... 6

1.1.4 Contextual perspective ......................................................................................... 7

1.2 Statement of the Problem........................................................................................ 8

1.3 Purpose of the study ............................................................................................... 9

1.4 Obectives of the study............................................................................................. 9

1.5 Research Questions............................................................................................... 10

1.6 Null Hypotheses.................................................................................................... 10

1.7 Scope................................................................................................................... 10

1.7.1 Geographical Scope............................................................................................ 10

1.7.2 Time Scope........................................................................................................ 10

1.7.3 Content scope.................................................................................................... 11

1.8 Significance of the study ....................................................................................... 11

1.9 Operational Definitions of key terms....................................................................... 12

CHAPTER TWO.....................................................................................................14

LITERATURE REVIEW..........................................................................................14

2.0 Introduction.......................................................................................................... 14

2.1 Theoretical review................................................................................................. 14

2.2 Conceptual framework .......................................................................................... 18

2.3 Review of related literature.................................................................................... 19

2.3.1 The nature of citizen participations...................................................................... 20

2.3.2 Legal Framework for citizen participation in local government policies ................... 21

2.3.3 Implementation of local government policies ....................................................... 22

2.3.4 The effect of agenda setting on implementation of local government policies......... 26

2.3.5 The impact of decision making on implementation of local government policies ..... 29

2.3.6 Effect of citizen planning on implementation of local government policies .............. 32

2.4 Gaps in the Literature............................................................................................ 35

CHAPTER THREE..................................................................................................36

METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................................36

3.0 Introduction.......................................................................................................... 36

3.1 Research Design ................................................................................................... 36

3.2 Research Population.............................................................................................. 36

3.3 Sample size .......................................................................................................... 36

3.4 Sampling procedures............................................................................................. 37

3.5 Sources of data..................................................................................................... 37

3.5.1 Primary sources ................................................................................................. 37

3.5.2 Secondary sources ............................................................................................. 38

3.6 Research instruments............................................................................................ 38

3.7 Validity and Reliability of the Instruments............................................................... 38

3.7.1 Validity .............................................................................................................. 38

3.7.2 Reliability........................................................................................................... 39

3.8 Data Gathering Procedures .................................................................................... 40

3.9 Data Analysis........................................................................................................ 40

3.11 Ethical Considerations ......................................................................................... 41

CHAPTER FOUR....................................................................................................42

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION ................................42

4.0 Introduction.......................................................................................................... 42

4.1 Demographic characteristics of the respondents ..................................................... 42

4.2 Citizens’ participation ............................................................................................ 43

4.3 Implementation of local government policies .......................................................... 46

4.4 Objective one; effect of local citizens’ participation in setting of agenda on implementation of local government policies in Mogadishu, Somalia ............. 49

4.5 Objective two; how citizens’ participatory decision making affects the implementation of local government policies in Mogadishu, Somalia..................... 51

4.6 Objective three; community members’ participation in planning in implementation of local government policies in Mogadishu, Somalia .................... 52

CHAPTER FIVE .....................................................................................................54

DISCUSSIONS, CONLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................54

5.0 Introduction.......................................................................................................... 54

5.1 Summary of findings ............................................................................................. 54

5.1.1 Objective one; the effect of local citizens’ participation in setting of agenda on implementation of local government policies in Mogadishu Somalia ........ 54

5.1.2 Objective two; how citizens’ participatory decision making affects the implementation of local government policies in Mogadishu, Somalia......... 55

5.1.3 Objective three; effect of community members’ participation in planning on implementation of local government policies in Mogadishu, Somalia....... 55

5.2 Conclusions .......................................................................................................... 56

5.3 Recommendation .................................................................................................. 57

5.5 New knowledge acquired....................................................................................... 58

5.6 Limitations to the study ......................................................................................... 58

5.7 Areas for further research...................................................................................... 59

REFERENCES........................................................................................................60

APPENDICES .............................................................................................................. 63

APPENDIX I: RESEARCH INSTRUMENT ........................................................................ 63

APPENDIX II: QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPLEMENTATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES

................................................................................................................................. 65