FACTORS INFLUENCING CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE IN MERU DISTRICT COUNCIL, TANZANIA

Abstract

This study focused on the assessment of the factors influencing citizen participation in local governance in Meru district council. Essentially the study focused on technological factor, social factors, cultural factors, and economic factors that influencing citizen participation in local governance in Meru district council. The researcher reviewed several literatures and theories, then developed a conceptual framework which helps to identify the knowledge gap from the previous studies. The population size includes 1 DED, 23 WC, 3 WEO, 5 VEOs, 6 Village leaders, 15 fifteen cell leaders, as well as 57 ordinary local citizens from different background with gender respectively. Primary data was collected through questionnaires and face to face interviews, while secondary data was collected from document reviews. The qualitative data was descriptive analyzed by using tables through SPSS. The findings shows the causative agent that weakens participations is the huge income disparities between rich and poor where rich are favorable class and valuable in decision making, gender where women are segregated in decision making, gap between educated and uneducated is very huge where the large number of MDC people are uneducated and are unaware of importance of participation in decision making process and finally technology were mostly worse since most of MDCS’ citizens are unaware of e-services and e participations. Therefore MDC on the aspect of participation has problematic issues that is needed to be addressed in detailed and in strategic way so that to enhance citizens participation in decision making and failure to do so bureaucracy will continue to happens, nepotism, misuse of resources, expansion of marginalization, gender and increase number of uneducated community because those who are in power will continue makes decision that favor a specific group of people and specifically those who in power. The researcher recommended that restructuring leadership system, promotion of gender mainstreaming, integration of ICT in participation process, promotion of education as well as economic empowerment for both gender, when all the aspects will be implemented well, it will address the problem and participation will increase in decision making in all sphere which needs participation of citizens.