List of top Community based Organisations in Kenya

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Below find importance of community based organizations cbos in Kenya?

In Kenya, CBOs began as self-help groups in the years of 1960s when the first president of Kenya, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta began to encourage grassroots growth through coming together in the spirit of what was referred to as Harambee. This spirit was based on the understanding that one could not be able to carry out plans or actions by him/herself but would require a certain contribution from the other members of the society. The Harambee spirit kept most of the self-help groups growing.


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The importance of community based organizations can never be emphasized basing with the achievements of DISC among many other organizations. In many rural and urban communities which in one way or another have been either marginalized or compounded by severe poverty levels. Community based organizations fondly known as CBOs have played a critical role in mobilizing people in to actions. Below is just but a list of some of the importance of CBOs:-

·         CBOs acts as pillars and forum through which the communities Raleigh people together to address a common issue.

·         CBOs have given community members chance to prioritized their needs and be able to understand how best to address them both personally and through external intervention.

·         CBOs act as a platform where communities are able to learn and exchange ideas.

·         CBOs act as a conduit though which the Government, national and international donors are able to realize sustainable development goals through community driven initiatives.

·          CBOs have also acted as CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT FORUMS where the members are able to have peer to peer learning, experiment leadership skills learnt through managing different activities and programs that are run on a day to day basis.

·         CBOs have also played a critical role in offering employment, economic empowerment of the youths and the community by people pulling their resources together to fund their collective or individual business ventures there by creating employment. In marginalized community CBOs have been known to increase bargaining power of farmers to get good and fair prices of their items they are selling among many other benefits.

The other question followed closely was. 

Which were the biggest achievements of the DISC-initiatives during the last years?

Over a period of 6 years we The DISC Initiatives prides itself with very many achievements in the following thematic areas:-

·         ADMINISTRATION

o    Registered the organization with the relevant Government structures. The Ministry of Gender, Sports and cultural activities.

o    Managed to directly create employment for 4 youths in Donyo community.

o    Professionalize our working systems.

·         EDUCATION

o    13 youths educated in top level universities and middle level colleges in Kenya.

o    364 youths have been able to benefit directly or in- directly in our secondary and primary school scholarships.

o    Set up a well-equipped and fully functioning community library in Donyo community being first of its kind serving the community and 6 schools around.

o    Established a life skills training for youths in school and managed to organize 4 youth based community empowerment workshop.

·         ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM

o    Recruited and enrolled 54 women into our Micro-loan project and gave accessed capital worth Kshs 3,054,245  in 4 years and a saving portfolio of Kshs 609,565 

o    Quarterly leadership forum for the leaders and the Micro-loan members through Capacity building training's on different topics affecting there day to day lives and operations.

·         INFORMATION COMMUNICATION & TECHNOLOGY

o    Established a fully established computer lab in Donyo with 26 functional computers.

o    Trained 231 youths in basic computer skills training and 6 youths in coding & programming basics.

MEDICAL CARE

o    Recruited 40 families and managed to enroll 24 families into National hospital insurance program.

So before we draw a conclusion.What challenges do local communities have to face in Kenya?

Kenya as a country has different regions made up of the urban, peri-urban and rural areas. These regions are distinguished by many factors such as land size, population, infrastructure, industries, and businesses among other factors. Other than the above mentioned factors it has come to my concern that the rural dwellers experience a lot of challenges and hence the rate of development in these areas are very minimal or stagnant. Currently Kenya is divided into 47  counties (Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu, Taita/Taveta, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Isiolo, Meru, Tharaka-Nithi, Embu, Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang'a, Kiambu, Turkana, West Pokot, Samburu, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo/Marakwet, Nandi, Baringo, Laikipia, Nakuru, Narok, Kajiado, Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia, Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Nairobi City) which were curved out of the original 8 provinces. Historically every region have own their own unique individual challenges. Kenya is among the developing countries in the world with its population increasing day by day. 

1.      Technology transfer – Urban slums & rural Kenyan communities have difficulties in accessing new technologies and since we are in digital era they will not catch up with the base at which other people are moving. However! Lots of start-ups, NGOs, CBOs and private companies are putting their best foot forward to cover the digital gap.

2.      Tradition, culture and norms- Kenya is defined by the foundation of our diversity that is deep routed in our cultures. Whereas most of our cultures have been positive. Most communities are still attach to other cultural practices that does not conform to modern times. Most community members are still following their traditions in their way of doing things. Change begets the inability to conform to new ideas and innovation in tackling modern day realities. Thereby compounding most of us to the cycle of poverty.

3.      Lack of capital access for the un-banked rural-slum poor- Most financial institution that are mushrooming in the country usually uses a model that encourages asset deposit like land title deeds, car-log books, extensive bank statements for them to access financial services. This is a major challenge in most communities. When there is no source of capital to start businesses or to expand your projects or personal venture then the rate of expansion is very slow and even persons with good tested entrepreneurship ideas are left to succumb in poverty.

4.      Lack of, insufficient basic infrastructure & social amenities-Kenya as a country suffers a big problem in equitable distribution of resources which we famously refer as the national cake. This has left many communities either marginalized economically, socially and politically. Access to medical care and health facilities, road network, educational facilities among many.

5.      Negative ethnicity & Governance- Kenya as a nation prides its self with having 43 tribes that makes the total 45 million estimated total population. Whereas our diversity has always defined our beauty. This has been an Achilles heal that has over a cycle of five years recurred to hit us hard. Politicians usually use tribal base to advance their agenda and greed for power and this has been divisive in the country. The resulting effect has been employment and services being accessed through a tribal banner. Where your second name becomes a merit or demerit. Corruption and skewed allocation of resources to communities perceived to be hostile to the sitting government.{It’s our time to eat}

 How can these challenges be met in future?

Most of challenges we face are most likely inclined to the issue of Governance. The challenges we are facing as communities lies in proper prioritizing of our needs by our government and international communities. We require leaders and institutions to be sensitive to:-

·         Economic realities of modern times as more community organizations do more with less.

·         Instill confidence and support capacity release and buildup of institutions and community based organizations they work with.

·         Have a better understanding of the Social, cultural and economic aspect of different communities and allocate resources equitably.

·         Help community based organizations understand complexities of issues they are dealing with and the rapids of change.


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Types of Community Organization

These organizations are often considered to include churches, unions, schools, health care agencies, social-service groups, fraternities, and clubs.

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