The Influence of Membership Diversity on Performance of CBO projects in Kaptembwo Informal settlement area in Nakuru city

Membership diversity continues to be recognized as a critical determinant of the effectiveness of community-based organizations (CBOs), especially in informal urban settlements where collective action is a key pillar for community development. Nonetheless, evidence on how diversity influences the performance of CBO-supported projects remains underexplored. This study examined how membership diversity influenced performance of CBO-supported projects in Kaptembwo informal settlement, Nakuru City, Kenya. The theoretical and methodological basis for this study was Social Capital Theory and a mixed methods approach using a concurrent triangulation research design. The findings reported in this paper are drawn from a broader study on the influence of social capital on the performance of CBO-supported projects. A sample of 152 CBO members was selected through simple random sampling, while seven key informants, including CBO leaders, local administrators, and a Social Development Officer, were selected purposively. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used in analyzing quantitative data, while themes were used for qualitative data. The study found that membership diversity significantly influences project performance by enhancing innovation, knowledge sharing, inclusivity, as well as collective problem-solving. Diversity enabled CBOs to draw on multidimensional experiences, skills, and perspectives, thus improving decision-making and responsiveness to community needs. Conversely, diversity also presented challenges, such as interpersonal conflicts, communication barriers, unequal participation, as well as power imbalances that limited effective project implementation in the absence of adequate management. The study also found that female-dominated participation contributed more positively to project performance compared to gender-balanced representation, implying that active participation and commitment may be more influential compared numerical gender parity. The study concludes that membership diversity contributes positively to the performance of CBO-supported projects if supported by inclusive leadership, proper communication, and effective conflict management strategies. This study recommends strengthening inclusive governance structures, promotion of equitable participation, and institutionalization of conflict resolution practices to lavarage the benefits of membership diversity in community-based development projects.

Membership diversity, Performance of CBO-supported projects, Social Capital Theory, Informal Urban Settlements

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