Social capital, though with multiple definitions, interpretations and uses, largely refers to the networks of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society that enable them to function effectively.
It involves the effective functioning of social groupings such as self-help groups, community-based organisations, sacco’s, registered entrepreneurial entities through interpersonal relationships, a shared sense of identity, understanding norms, values, trust, cooperation and reciprocity.
Social capital measures the value of resources, both tangible and intangible and the impact these relationships on the resources involved in each relationship and on larger groups. It is a form of capital that produces public goods for a common purpose.
With less than seven months to the general election, various competing political factions are fronting differing social economic models in their quest to excite voters, greater targets being the youth who remain vulnerable yet energetic with no jobs or well utilised opportunities.
One of the major economic problems in Africa and Kenya in particular is underdevelopment and poverty syndromes, which have been confirmed by various studies that have been done on various economies on the continent.
The general consensus is that until these major issues of Africa’s economy are addressed, the continent will remain excluded from the global economy, with poverty levels in escalation.
As we read and listen to the blueprints and the various proposed “revolutionary economic models” of the presidential hopefuls, it remains critical for the youth to keenly interrogate each and bear witness to implementable ideologies, policies and not “hot-air” at the dangle of handouts and tokenism.
One approach of strengthening social capital power is to encourage society to adopt structured working associations that guarantee return on investments, growth, security and expanded opportunities by and large.
Lack of information, interest, commitment and resilience remains an impediment among many in society. Many of the youths are heedless or half-baked in understanding the formation and management of self-help groups, CBOs, sacco’s, sole proprietorship(s), partnerships and insurance packages that work well with mwananchi.
Many remain unaware of the strength and benefits of such structured registered groups. A practical case view is the ballooning of Whatsapp groups in call and need for harambee (s) to either offset medical, burial or education expenses. The trend is becoming unbearable, fractious and a burden to many Kenyans who are struggling to make ends meet.
Administrators of these WhatsApp groups practice involuntary invitations and rarely collect meaningful amounts to offset the said bills. Conmen and scrupulous individuals have also taken the opportunity to fleece innocent Kenyans with fake WhatsApp accounts in need of support.
Strengthening structured groups can be a cure to such incidents.
As it is now the existing friendlier opportunities at Uwezo, Youth and Women enterprise fund, AGPO, KYEOP, as well as borrowing and investment offers in a majority of the established Sacco’s remain underutilised.
One better way to tame the misuse of youths and their over reliance on handouts is to increase information awareness campaigns led by media; local administration; ministries of Gender and Social Protection, Youth and Sports and Interior; inter-faith based organizations and civil societies, among other key agents.
Let these organisations be key drivers in calling for the youths to coalesce and work under organised groups rather than individualism.
Let the government support policies that encourage investment in social capital either directly or by creating an environment friendly to the emergence and management of local associations.
Dennis Wendo
Founder- Integrated Development Network
