THE ROLE OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT ON THE SUSTAINABILITY OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PROJECTS: A CASE STUDY OF BARINGO COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

This study investigated the role of stakeholder engagement in ensuring the sustainability of disaster preparedness and response projects in Baringo County, Kenya, a region prone to recurrent droughts and floods. Utilizing a descriptive research design, data was collected from 120 Disaster Risk Management committee members through structured questionnaires, analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression. The results demonstrated that robust engagement of community members, government agencies, NGOs, and private sector stakeholders significantly enhanced ownership, resource mobilization, and effective project implementation, accounting for 68% of the variance in project sustainability (R² = 0.68, p < .001). Community involvement in planning and inter-agency coordination during evaluation emerged as key predictors of sustained outcomes. Barriers such as conflicting agendas and weak feedback mechanisms were identified as impediments. The study recommendsestablishing formal stakeholder forums, capacity-building workshops, standardized feedback systems, and policy incentives to foster inclusive and sustained collaboration, thereby strengthening the resilience and longevity of disaster management initiatives in Baringo County.