Are NGOs essential for Kenyas development?
By ROSEMARIE MUGANDA ONYANDO In the last two decades, the number of non-governmental organisations has grown significantly, as has the amount of resources they control. The growth of the NGO sector has also been phenomenal elsewhere in the world. One of the reasons is the oft-quoted “comparative advantage” or the ability of NGOs to deliver emergency relief or development services cost-effectively to those most in need. NGOs can reach groups that government and other agencies cannot, and past development strategies have given NGOs the legitimacy to act on behalf of the poor. According to World Bank estimates, NGOs contribute about $180 million annually to rural water supply schemes alone. This is three times the volume of loans advanced by the World Bank itself for such schemes. Although actual figures are difficult to obtain, it is estimated that NGOs in Kenya have an annual development expenditure of between $150-$200 million. These figures showing the volume of funds in the hands of
