article · Journal of the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO
Faith-based organisations frequently encounter obstacles that restrict the impact of their community welfare initiatives. In Laikipia West sub-County, Kenya, the Presbyterian Church of East Africa has implemented programmes to improve local livelihoods, but faces multiple barriers. Key hindrances include insecurity and hostility driven by bandit attacks and cattle rustling, which elevate local tensions. Internally, bureaucratic administrative procedures delay project execution, while a lack of financial and material resources constrains operations. Additionally, disunity among church leadership undermines coordinated action. Addressing these operational difficulties requires the church to partner with government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and local communities to improve resource mobilisation, safety, and the long-term sustainability of development interventions.
Faith-based organisations play a significant role in providing social and economic assistance in rural areas. Understanding the specific external threats, such as banditry, and internal hurdles, such as leadership friction and bureaucracy, helps development practitioners, policy makers, and community leaders design more resilient intervention strategies and collaborative partnerships that ensure vital community services remain functional.
The abstract does not indicate a direct commercial application pathway. However, non-governmental organisations, civil society groups, and public administrators can use these operational findings as applied research to structure collaborative funding models, risk-mitigation measures, and governance frameworks for community interventions in conflict-affected rural areas.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Efforts by faith-based organizations to promote socio-economic wellbeing in communities are often faced with multiple challenges which limit the impact and sustainability of their interventions. The Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA), guided by biblical teachings that advocate human welfare, has implemented various programs aimed at improving livelihoods in the community. This study therefore sought to evaluate the challenges faced by the PCEA church in its participation in socio-economic wellbeing of communities in Laikipia West sub-County. The study was anchored on the theory of Human Development. Descriptive mixed method design was adopted. The target population was households in areas where the PCEA has had socio-economic development projects in Laikipia West sub-County, PCEA church ministers, ordained elders and local administrators in Laikipia West sub-County. Primary data was collected using structured household questionnaires and Key Informant Interviews. Secondary data was collected by use of documentary analysis. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics where percentages and proportions were computed while the qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The study findings revealed several challenges that hinder the PCEA Church from effectively promoting socio-economic development. These challenges include insecurity and hostility arising from cattle rustling, as well as bandit attacks that increase tensions among communities. In addition, bureaucratic processes within the church often delay the implementation of development projects. The study also identified insufficient financial and material resources as a major challenge. Furthermore, disunity among church leaders was found to undermine coordinated efforts aimed at advancing socio-economic development. The study recommended that the Church should address operational constraints such as insufficient funds, insecurity, and environmental challenges by partnering with government bodies, Non-Governmental Organizations, and local communities to enhance resource mobilization and program sustainability.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.62049/jkncu.v6i2.609
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
