Stakeholder Participation Driving the Sustainability of Safaricom Foundation Projects in Kilifi County, Kenya

Ernest Ekene Ahanotu, Luhombo Adema Calistus & Ruth Njeri Karuu
The Catholic University of Eastern Africa
Email: ernestkc.jk@gmail.com

Abstract: Community-based projects in Kenya often face sustainability challenges, with nearly half failing to maintain outcomes beyond the donor funding period. Kilifi County mirrors this national trend. This study examined the influence of stakeholder participation on the sustainability of community-based projects in Kilifi County, focusing on 55 initiatives funded by the Safaricom Foundation between 2022 and 2024. These projects spanned education, health, environment, water, and economic empowerment, engaging a total population of 16,689 stakeholders. Given the impracticality of surveying the entire population, Taro Yamane’s (1967) formula was applied to determine a representative sample of 391 participants. Data collection and analysis were conducted concurrently, employing the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 to summarise findings and draw inferences. Results revealed a high overall perception of stakeholder involvement (M = 4.42, SD = 0.638), with 64% of respondents reporting participation across multiple phases of the project cycle, including initiation, planning, implementation, and sustainability monitoring. These findings underscore the critical role of active stakeholder engagement in fostering ownership, accountability, and long-term project resilience. The study concludes that sustained and inclusive participation throughout the project lifecycle significantly enhances the likelihood of community-based projects enduring beyond the donor funding phase.