EFFECT OF STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION IN FINANCIAL PLANNING ON SUSTAINABILITY OF PPP HEALTH PROJECTS IN KIAMBU COUNTY, KENYA

Purpose: To examine the effect of stakeholder participation in financial planning on the sustainability of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) health projects in Kiambu County, Kenya, with focus on budgeting, resource allocation, funding consultations, budget reviews, and financial transparency. Methodology: The study was guided by Stakeholder Theory and adopted a descriptive survey research design. It targeted stakeholders from 28 PPP health projects implemented in Kiambu County between 2019 and 2025, including county government officials, private partners, project managers, and community representatives. A census approach was used to include all 100 identified stakeholders. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, with 95 completed instruments returned, giving a 95% response rate. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and regression analysis to determine the relationship between stakeholder participation in financial planning and project sustainability. Findings: Results showed that stakeholder participation in financial planning was positively rated, with an aggregate mean of 4.07 (SD = 0.93). Sustainability indicators also recorded a favorable mean of 4.09 (SD = 0.77). Regression analysis established a statistically significant positive relationship between stakeholder participation in financial planning and project sustainability (β = 0.391, p < 0.001), explaining 57.7% of the variation in sustainability outcomes (R² = 0.577). Conclusion: The study concluded that effective stakeholder participation in financial planning significantly enhances sustainability of PPP health projects and recommended institutionalizing participatory financial planning frameworks within PPP governance structures.