Security Factors and Completion of National Government Constituency Development Fund Projects in Public Secondary Schools in Samburu County, Kenya

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between selected security factors and the completion of National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) projects in public secondary schools in Samburu County, Kenya. It focused on community hostility towards builders, vandalism of project structures, theft of construction materials and cattle rustling leading to school closures. A descriptive survey research design guided by a phenomenological paradigm was adopted. The target population comprised 265 participants, including 250 school-based participants (principals, deputy principals, heads of departments, Board of Management chairpersons and school bursars) and 15 key informants (sub-county directors of education, Teachers Service Commission sub-county directors, NG-CDF chairpersons, NG-CDF fund managers and deputy county commissioners). A census approach was adopted. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and interview schedules, yielding 212 completed questionnaires and 15 interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product-moment correlation and regression analysis, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Findings revealed a strong negative and statistically significant relationship between security factors and project completion (β = −0.775, p = .001), with the regression model explaining 60.1 per cent of the variation in project completion (R² = .601). Community hostility, vandalism, theft of construction materials and cattle rustling were identified as constraints. The study recommends strengthening community engagement, collaboration with security agencies and protection of construction sites and materials. The findings contribute to improving NG-CDF project implementation and informing security-responsive school infrastructure planning in insecurity-prone regions.