Public Participation Mechanisms and Strategic Leadership Effectiveness in Taita Taveta County

Public participation is a constitutional requirement under Kenya's devolved governance framework and is widely regarded as a critical mechanism for promoting transparency, accountability, and effective leadership. However, empirical evidence on how specific public participation mechanisms influence strategic leadership effectiveness at the county level remains limited. This study examined the influence of public participation mechanisms on strategic leadership effectiveness in Taita Taveta County, Kenya. Specifically, the study assessed the effects of inclusiveness and stakeholder representation, feedback mechanisms and responsiveness, transparency and accountability, information dissemination and communication quality, and participation platforms and engagement processes. The study was anchored on Arnstein's Ladder of Citizen Participation, Stakeholder Theory, and Transformational Leadership Theory. A mixed-methods research design was adopted. Data were collected from 385 respondents selected through multistage sampling using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that all five public participation mechanisms had statistically significant positive relationships with strategic leadership effectiveness. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the mechanisms collectively explained 10.2% of the variation in strategic leadership effectiveness (R² = 0.102, p < 0.001). Among the predictors, participation platforms and engagement processes (β = 0.158, p = 0.007) and feedback mechanisms and responsiveness (β = 0.106, p = 0.039) exerted the strongest positive influence on strategic leadership effectiveness. The study concludes that although public participation structures are institutionalized within Taita Taveta County, their contribution to strategic leadership effectiveness remains modest. Strengthening inclusive engagement platforms, enhancing feedback systems, improving information dissemination, and promoting transparency and accountability are essential for improving strategic leadership and governance outcomes in devolved county governments.