Abstract
In Kenya, self-help groups are the main means used by change agencies to work with members of communities on development and welfare matters. However, only a few studies of self-help groups have been completed in the country. This study was based on the self-help approach, the life cycle of self-help groups and the social capital conceptual perspectives. Data presented in this article were collected from 23 self-help groups and their 15 members from nine districts (now, counties) of the country. It was found, among other things, that leaders of the groups were aware of various problems of their communities as well as registration requirements for their groups. Most of the groups had been formed by local leaders with development and welfare concerns as their objectives. About 70 per cent of the groups had performed better compared to the remaining ones. However, among the characteristics of the groups studied, only their formalization in terms of better observance of corporate governance practices and number of activities they carried out explained their better performance compared to the others. Whereas the groups had 15 or more members at the time of registration with the Department of Gender and Social Development, the membership of about a third of them had declined below the required 15 members after their registration. Most of the members were youthful, married and with dependents. All of the members sampled reported making monetary and other contributions, and more than half reported benefitting from their groups. We examined a few groups in detail as case studies and obtained more insights from them on their formation, membership, objectives, activities, performance, achievements and challenges. It was concluded that self-help groups were positively contributing in meeting the development and welfare needs of their members and that there was potential for their efforts to be strengthened.
Highlights
ObjectivesSince all the groups had objectives, we held that those which had single were likely to perform better than those which had multiple objectives
The practice of community development through self-help groups was emphasized in its earlier conceptions by Jackson (1956), the Cambridge Conference on encouragement of initiative in African society1, Askwith (1960) and the United Nations (1963). We found that this earlier emphasis on self-help groups was essential when we were preparing Kenya’s community development policy
Poverty with associated low income was the most mentioned problem by 16.4 per cent followed by low education, illiteracy and ignorance (14.9%), poor farming (10.5%), lack of entrepreneurship, business education and Income Generating Activities (IGAs) (7.5%), and lack of health centers and diseases including HIV/AIDs (7.5%)
Summary
Since all the groups had objectives, we held that those which had single were likely to perform better than those which had multiple objectives. A number of other objectives such as to mobilize, sensitize and train PWDs for HIV/AIDs awareness and to raise level of education of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) were each reported by a small percentage of the groups. Number of activities carried out by the SHGs. Level of formalization of group. From outside Difference Above 7 years Below 6 years Difference Yes, supported No support Difference. Single Multiple Difference Few (1-2) Multiple (>3) Difference Yes, better observed governance practices Yes, some observation of governance practices Difference Unit Group CBOs/Committees Difference. Some 0.61 1.0 0.39* 0.65 1.0 0.35* 0.65 0.80 0.15 0.64 0.78 0.14* 0.58 0.82 0.24* 0.44 0.86 0.42* 0.52*
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