Beyond formal structures: How community perceptions of legitimacy shape participatory Forest Management in South Nandi, Kenya

Participatory Forest Management (PFM) aims to engage local communities in forest governance, yet in Kenya, low participation persists despite formal policies. While qualitative studies suggest that community perceptions of exclusion and inequity undermine PFM, few have quantitatively linked specific perceptions to participation behavior. This study examines socio-cultural barriers to PFM in South Nandi Forest by quantifying how community perceptions of decision-making influence, transparency in governance, and equity in benefit distribution are associated with levels of community participation. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, we surveyed 210 households and conducted 11 key informant interviews. Ordinal logistic regression and thematic analysis were applied. Results show that 71.4% of respondents perceived minimal or no influence over forest decisions, and 65% attended meetings only rarely or never. Perceived benefit unfairness was the strongest predictor of disengagement (OR = 2.92, 95% CI [1.98–4.31]), followed by low perceived influence (OR = 1.85) and low transparency (OR = 1.61). Qualitative narratives describe a top-down, transactional system where communities are “told the rules, not asked.” The study contributes to legitimacy theory by empirically quantifying perception-participation links within Ostrom's Social-Ecological Systems framework, demonstrating that distributive and procedural justice are central to PFM outcomes. We recommend that future longitudinal research track changes in participation following interventions that co-design benefit-sharing protocols and integrate traditional institutions such as the Kokwet council.