An analysis of capacities of civil society organizations (CSOs) involved in promotion of community participation in governance in Kenya

• Author: Jane Wamaitha Munene,D. Reckson Thakhathi
• Published date: 01 November 2017
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/pa.1668
• Date: 01 November 2017

ACADEMIC PAPER

An analysis of capacities of civil society organizations (CSOs)

involved in promotion of community participation in

governance in Kenya

Jane Wamaitha Munene |D. Reckson Thakhathi

Public Administration, University of Fort Hare

Faculty of Management and Commerce, Alice,

South Africa

Correspondence

Jane Wamaitha Munene, Public

Administration, University of Fort Hare

Faculty of Management and Commerce,

Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa.

Email: jmwmunene@gmail.com

Although civil society organizations (CSOs) often receive attention in development discourse,

they are particularly deemed to provide a new way that ensures good governance. Hence, an

understanding of their contributions against the backdrop of governance‐related challenges in

Kenya calls for fresh and new research. This article gives attention to CSOs' role in the promo-

tion of community participation in governance. Specifically, it looks into capacities of CSOs

involved in these efforts on governance. It links persistent poor governance happening at the

counties to inadequate capacities of CSOs involved in the fight against the vice. It argues that

CSOs lack vital capacities including adequate funds, staff, offices, and equipment, to be able

to sustain action against poor governance. The study methodology involved a survey, focus

group discussions, and in‐depth face‐to‐face interviews. A variety of tools were used that

included a survey questionnaire, focus group discussion guide, and in‐depth interview guide.

Some of the recommendations are that it is important for stakeholders including the govern-

ment to understand CSOs and provide them with required support. CSOs also need to be given

training and exposure to programs in other countries that have successfully addressed

governance issues.

1|THE CONCEPTS OF CIVIL SOCIETY

ORGANIZATIONS, GOVERNANCE, AND

GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES

1.1 |Civil society organizations

Civil society organizations (CSOs) are organizations in the society that

work outside the state and are made up of several individuals coming

together. However, there is no agreed meaning of the concept. Edward

(2005) argues that CSOs are the “associational life of society”that

develops values such as tolerance and cooperation among people.

Second, he conceptualizes CSOs as “the good society”based on social

contracts negotiated between government, business, and citizens.

Third, Edward (2005) conceptualizes CSOs as the “public sphere”that

cares about the common good. This has to do with shared interests,

willingness to accommodate others with opposite views and work

together to pursue common goals. The “public sphere”brings in the

consensus across competing views—politics, ideology, race, gender,

and culture in an associational collaboration and inclusion.

Another scholar Heyden (1996) states that CSOs refer to a vast

web of private and public associations that are guaranteed the right

to organize, mobilize, and, if they desire, to influence political decisions

free of the state's control.

Edward (2005) argues that the organizations are about the coop-

erative spirit of the society where people come together for common

goals. Edward (2005) also states that CSOs are made up of the public

sector of the society that cares about the welfare of the people.

Nzomo (2003) however argues that CSOs have to do with family and

blood associations or groups but this does not include political groups.

She also includes the informal associations in rural areas in the

category of CSOs. Edward's (2005) conceptualization of CSOs as the

“public sphere”helps shape the focus of this study whose concern is

those CSOs whose interest is the “public sphere”and the “common

good”of all.

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This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permitsuse, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided

the original work is properly cited.

© 2017 The Authors. Journal of Public Affairs Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Received: 24 February 2017 Accepted: 16 July 2017

DOI: 10.1002/pa.1668

J Public Affairs. 2017;17:e1668.

https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.1668

wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/pa 1of6