Harambee and development participation in Kenya: the politics of peasants and elites interaction with particular reference to harambee projects in Kiambu District

Abstract

This study seeks to analyse the Harambee (self­ help) movement in Kenya as a political phenomenon. To this end, the study seeks to describe and explain how and why Harambee and Harambee projects became the most important political linkage between the leaders and the led in Kenya. In the study, it is argued that the politics of Harambee were central to Kenyatta' s chosen political technique of controlling the Kenyan state. The technique was to establish a patron-client system, the political recruitment to which was dependent on participation in Harambee and Harambee projects. For their support in maintaining the system established by Kenyatta, the national elites were allowed, and indeed had to become political entrepreneurs. The peasants for their part, obtained Harambee projects but they themselves were largely responsible for providing the resources needed to implement the projects. Therefore, in the course of the whole series of exchanges between the Government, the elites and the peasants, the peasants were the only group which did not obtain fair exchange for its part in perpetuating the patron-client system.