Socio-Economic Impact of Road and Fiber Optic Infrastructure on Underdeveloped Regions: Case of Isiolo County, Kenya

Abstract: Should compensation mechanisms and processes be a factor to delay development of critical infrastructural facilities? The researcher carried out a survey experiment in Isiolo, one of the targeted counties benefit from multiple infrastructural facilities yet to be developed and link the north eastern part the huge development projects commonly known as Lamu Port –South Sudan, Ethipian Transport Corridor (LAPSET). The researcher found out that the respondents who participated in the survey expressed displeasure in the way land compensation process were done. The study applied quantitative method (cross-section) to gather data in respect to the level of disagreements among those affected. The study covered Isiolo central and Garbatulla sub-counties which have an estimated population of 112,000 people. (KNBS, 2019). The sample size was 384, determined by deployment of Krejcie, R.V. & Morgan, D.W. table (1970). The results showed that, government had succeeded in achieving the following; advocacy in policy programs to the public participating, conducted public (75 % agreement), formed peace and conciliation committee to address grievances, (79% agreement), provided critical information regarding compensation, (55% agreements) however, the government had not succeeded in the following policy areas; Introduction of information on the genesis of the development programs, (15% agreement), the nature of compensation, (10% agreement), the capacity of grievances /conciliation committees to authoritatively and legally handle conflicts emanating from compensation issues (7 % agreement). The study concludes that G.O.K had been able to put up policy framework to address land compensation grievances. However, the propagation teams failed to convince the affected (respondents) how to critical and well the compensation mechanisms could support their plight in terms of retribution or in ways contemplated by government. This pointed to failure in the dialogue/mediation aspect among the dissenting members of public in the affected area. This meant that disagreements exists. It is recommended that Government should change tactics in policy disseminations and in particular use the services of specialized/ skilled negotiators and communicators in matters compensation. The local people should be educated matters community development, roles and with the specific examples of where such practices have succeeded before initiating development plans. Keywords: government plans, development, land compensation, underdeveloped communities, information disseminations. Title: Socio-Economic Impact of Road and Fiber Optic Infrastructure on Underdeveloped Regions: Case of Isiolo County, Kenya Author: Marube Kepha International Journal of Recent Research in Social Sciences and Humanities (IJRRSSH) ISSN 2349-7831 Vol. 12, Issue 1, January 2025 - March 2025 Page No: 1-6 Paper Publications Website: www.paperpublications.org Published Date: 06-February-2025 DOI: https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.14824242 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.paperpublications.org/upload/book/Socio-Economic%20Impact-06022025-4.pdf