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Non-governmental Organizations and Corruption: The Case of Kenya

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Challenges to Democratic Governance in Developing Countries

Part of the book series: Public Administration, Governance and Globalization ((PAGG,volume 11))

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).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Virginia Commonwealth University, 9014 Patterson Ave. #31, Richmond, VA, 23229, USA

    Douglas Kimemia

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  1. Douglas Kimemia
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Correspondence to Douglas Kimemia .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Public Administration, Cheyney University, Cheyney, Pennsylvania, USA

    Gedeon Mudacumura

  2. School of Public Affairs, Penn State – Harrisburg W160 Olmsted Building, Middletown, Pennsylvania, USA

    Göktuğ Morçöl

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Kimemia, D. (2014). Non-governmental Organizations and Corruption: The Case of Kenya. In: Mudacumura, G., Morçöl, G. (eds) Challenges to Democratic Governance in Developing Countries. Public Administration, Governance and Globalization, vol 11. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03143-9_10

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