Socio-economic empowerment of communities by grassroots organizations: The case of the Harambee self help groups in Kenya

Abstract

The study contributes to the discourse on grassroots organizations by studying the traditional Harambee Self Help Groups in Kenya in the light of social enterprise and third sector discourses. Data for this study was provided by provincial administration of Riruta Location in Nairobi, Kenya. The location archives comprised of self-help groups (SHGs) registration forms, constitutions, dispute processes, correspondences, proposals and minutes.The study found that unit increases in resource mobilization activities, organizational meetings, governmental recognition in terms of registrations, membership and village outreaches had positive influence on   the expected changes in the number of economic empowerment activities in a significant way. Unit decreases in networking and unit increases in challenges had a negative influence.This study attempts to equate the Harambee SHGs to social enterprises, studies their entrepreneurial dynamic within the Kenyan third sector  and examines their historical and current contribution in the country.