The Role of Non- State Actors in Promoting Good Governance: The Case of Kenya

Abstract

This paper examines the role of civil society in Africa with special emphasis on Kenya. In order to assess the role of civil society to promote good governance, qualitative method was used. Data was collected from secondary and primary sources and analyzed in order to recommend possible solutions.Over the years, African governments and their institutions lacked the courage and will to enforce the law, procedures, and policies to enhance good governance. As a result in Africa, governance is characterized by poor institutional performance, inadequate parliament, lack of the independence of the judiciary system, corrupt police force, political instability, abuse and misuse of political offices, insufficient budgetary accountability, lack of respect for the rule of law and human rights, and bureaucratic bottleneck and above all corruption. Even though,  Kenyas’ civil societies play  good role  to promote good governance they  not  effective enough due some of them has their own interest and they changed their goals after some improvements occur in political arena. The findings of this study also revealed that there are some of the civil society agencies championing democratization of the country. A number of civil society organizations in Kenya work in the areas of human rights, democratic development, gender and social awareness among others. They have undergone fundamental changes in Post-colonial Kenya. Non state actors contribute for social, economic and political openings in the country.

Keywords: Civil society, role, governance, non-state actor.

DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/11-5-02

Publication date:March 31^st 2021