An Adoption Model for WhatsApp Messaging in Enhancing Public Participation in Budgeting Process: A Study of Migori County Government, Kenya

Abstract

Globally the use of WhatsApp messaging has gained power. WhatsApp succeeded to make its place in the top 20 leading applications in US by early 2011 (Prathap et al. 2014). Just like many social media platforms, it provides a platform for instantaneous sharing of information (Jebakumar & Jisha, 2014). Many people in Migori County have not been able to participate in county budgeting process because of ineffective communication. The finding of a study on ‘Citizen perception on the status of county governance practices; a case study of Migori county' shows that there is engagement gap which should be filled by increased involvement of the citizens by both county assembly and the executives so as to meet citizens' satisfaction (Mbihi, 2016). This study was underpinned on the Technology Acceptance Mode (TAM) which  indicates that perceived ease and usefulness are the most determinant factors of a technology or information system used by an individual and Participatory Development Theory which argues that any development project can be successful if its beneficiaries are put at the centre .The aim of this study was three fold: 1) To examine the use of WhatsApp messaging in enhancing public participation budgeting process in Migori county 2) To investigate factors influencing the adoption of WhatsApp massaging in public participation budgeting process and 3) To propose an adoption model of WhatsApp messaging for public participation budgeting process for Migori County. A survey study design was followed in which 399 respondents who are 18 years and above, use WhatsApp messaging and are literate participated. Data sampling was done through systematic random and purposive sampling and analysis was done both qualitatively and quantitatively. The study revealed majority of the respondents in the study proposed the use of WhatsApp messaging for public participation because of its convenience, timely communication, and ease of use among others. The respondents, however, indicated that issues of high cost of bundles, non-inclusivity, poor coordination and identification of people to participate in public participation should be addressed. The study has also proposed a five staged model for WhatsApp messaging. The study recommended that the county government of Migori should adopt WhatsApp messaging as one of the communication tools for public participation in budgeting process and other development programmes.