Non-governmental Organizations and Corruption: The Case of Kenya

Abstract

The non-governmental organization (NGO) sector has established itself as a medium for delivery of economic, political, and social development for those living on the margins of the society in developing countries (Ndegwa 1996; Werker and Ahmed 2008). Since the 1980s, also known as the “NGO decade” due to the drastic growth of NGOs, the sector has broadened its mission from playing relatively marginal roles in a few developing countries to providing welfare services in many global arenas (Barrow and Jennings 2001). During the 1980s, NGOs were perceived as a “magic bullet” and panacea for many of the ills of the developing nations, like corruption (Edwards and Hulme 1996; Zaidi 1999; Hearn 2007). NGOs have stepped in to fill the gaps in the service delivery where the market has failed or is unwilling to invest due to low or no profit margins. NGOs also filled in where politically challenged, indebted, or corrupt governments were unable or unwilling to perform their duties of meeting the needs of their citizens (Kanyinga et al. 2007; Teegen et al. 2004).