Community-Based Organizations: Super Highway For Popular Participation in Governance and Development – the Kenyan Experience

Julius Nabende (Kenyatta University, Department of Political Studies and History, Nairobi) [BIO] und Mercy Irungu (Young Women in Action, Kenya, Yowak, Nairobi)

Email: juliussimiyu@yahoo.com

 

ABSTRACT:

The democratization process that has taken root in Kenya since 1992 has introduced a new strategy in facilitating citizens to play a decisive role in shaping the political and economic landscape in Kenya. Western conventional knowledge assumes that political parties are the most ideal socializing tools for a people to participate in mainstream governance and development.

In Africa it is evident that political pluralism which is supposed to be a major component of democracy is a failed experiment. The urge for unitary types of governments seem to be a norm in Africa. Political parties are yet to be assimilated into the African cultural and social world view.

However, across Africa community based organizations have taken a lead role in transcending ethnic/tribal and regional barriers that are barriers to Africa’s development. Community-based organizations are becoming strong cells in which citizens are taking initiative to influence public policy, legislation, and economic development. Community-based organizations have been formed by minority groups; women, people with disabilities, professional groups, and even entrepreneurs, i.e they are broadly based.Could Community-based organizations provide sustainable strategies for democratization and development in Africa in general and Kenya in particular? In order to identify appropriate data that will assist us to show the emerging role of community-based organizations in Kenya’s political scene we draw on research methodologies, such as oral interviews and focused group discussions, and use both quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques.

Could Community-based organizations provide sustainable strategies for democratization and development in Africa in general and Kenya in particular? In order to identify appropriate data that will assist us to show the emerging role of community-based organizations in Kenya’s political scene we draw on research methodologies, such as oral interviews and focused group discussions, and use both quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques.