To Examine Economic Factors Influencing Citizen Participation in Local Governance in Meru District Council - Tanzania

This study focused on economic factors influencing citizen participation in local governance in Meru district council. The researcher reviewed several literatures and theories, then developed a conceptual framework which helps to identify the knowledge gap from the previous studies. The population size includes 1 DED, 23 WC, 3 WEO, 5 VEOs, 6 Village leaders, 15 fifteen cell leaders, as well as 57 ordinary local citizens from different background with gender respectively. Primary data was collected through questionnaires and face to face interviews, while secondary data was collected from document reviews. The qualitative data was descriptively and narratively analyzed by using tables through SPSS. The finding shows the causative agent that weakens participations is the huge income disparities between rich and poor where rich are favorable class and valuable in decision making process than the poor. Therefore MDC is required to come up with strategic ways that can enhance citizens participation in decision making and failure to do so bureaucracy will continue to happens, nepotism, misuse of resources, expansion of marginalization, gender and increase number of uneducated community because those who are stable financially will continue makes decision that will favor a specific group of people and specifically those who are economically good. The researcher recommended that economic empowerment is most important thing in MDC. The government has to introduce microfinance, SACCOS, and assures accessible loans to people so that they can be financially stable and reduce burdens of work and unwillingness of citizens when it comes to the issues of participation.