Have civil society organizations’ political empowerment programmes contributed to a deepening of democracy in Kenya?
Abstract
This chapter evaluates whether the political empowerment programmes undertaken by civil society organizations (CSOs) at the local level have translated into a deepening of democracy in Kenya. It concludes that the record is mixed: CSO political empowerment programmes score high in terms of fostering civic virtue, teaching political skills and nurturing a growing ability and willingness on the part of grassroots communities to check abuses of power at the local level. However, the programmes gain only an average score in terms of their contribution to enhancing the autonomy and sustainability of grassroots associational life, and rate very low on their contribution to an improvement in the quality and equality of representation of interests in local governance.
Owing to copyright restrictions, only the first 3 pages are attached, together with a link to the book at Zed Books.
Citation
Nyamu-Musembi, C. Have civil society organizations’ political empowerment programmes contributed to a deepening of democracy in Kenya? In: Mobilising for Democracy: Citizen Action and the Politics of Public Participation. V.S.P. Coelho and B. von Lieres (Editors). Zed Books, London, UK (2010) ISBN 9781848134454 (Hardback)