RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FINANCIAL PLANNING AND SERVICE DELIVERY IN KALAKI DISTRICT LOCAL GOVERNMENT; A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY

Abstract

Background

This study aims to determine the relationship between financial planning and service delivery in Kalaki District local government.

Methodology

The study adopted a cross-sectional study research design, where quantitative was adopted. Data was collected using questionnaires, an interview guide, and a documentary checklist and analyzed using linear regression.

Results

The results revealed that the budget is approved transparently as pointed out by 90.2 % of the respondents. The findings further indicated that 85.3% of the respondents agree that Decisions are made at all levels of Management in Kalaki district; relatedly, 85.2 % of the respondents agree that the Budget always guides all financial activities in LLGs. The study similarly indicated that 78.4 % of the respondents agree that Decision-making in LLG is largely consultative; 76.5% of the respondents agree that Budgets are usually presented to the council by the 15^th of June yearly, and finally, 26.5 % of the respondents agree that budget in Kalaki District Local Government is wastage of time and resources. The findings point towards the conclusion that financial planning has a contribution towards service delivery in the district.

Conclusion

This study found out that planning was done with few community priorities taken into consideration, some activities are planned by the central government and taken to the community without consultation with the communities. This reduces ownership therefore difficulty in the maintenance of those projects.

It should be noted that only activities planned and approved by the council are implemented hence services should be provided as planned and approved however there is a need for participatory planning and a bottom-up approach for ownership of projects and sustainability if planning should affect service delivery.

Recommendation

Council at district and sub-counties should ensure that the budget is approved transparently and as the community has priorities.