This archive report was first published on 30 September 2019.
Kenya's Rotten Civil Society Exposed ¶
September 30, 2019
Kenya's civil society has been plagued by a culture of corruption, abuse of power, and exploitation of employees and service providers. This toxic environment has led to a breakdown in trust and accountability within the sector.
Senior members of civil society have been accused of selling themselves as saviors, but in reality, they are deeply entrenched in the corruption within the sector. They control the flow of funding, opportunities, and work, often favoring their own organizations and allies.
- Physical, sexual, mental, and verbal abuse of employees is rampant, with instances of physical fights in offices.
- Employees have suffered miscarriages and depression due to the toxic work environment.
- Many NGOs have been accused of non-payment of vendors, artists, and consultants.
- HRDs are exploited, and their ideas are stolen, only to be excluded from project implementation.
- Lack of separation between private and work-related time has led to burnout and exploitation of employees.
- Unnecessary bureaucracy has frustrated employees and service providers.
- Gossip, hate mail, and wassup discussions targeting employees who are 'outshining' others are common.
- Lack of proper dispute resolution mechanisms has led to unfair treatment of employees.
- Sexual relations between bosses and employees have created an uneven power dynamic.
- Stealing from organizations through procurement is a widespread issue.
- Foreign trips are reserved for a select few, while others are left behind.
- The 'industry' protects its own, even in cases of misconduct.
- HRDs at the frontline are exploited and excluded from decision-making processes.
- Some organizations do not remit statutory deductions for employees.
- There have been court cases involving former staff members and organizations for unfair dismissal.
- High staff turnover due to toxic work environments has stalled ongoing projects.
- Serial mistreatment of service providers is a common practice.
- Underpaying of employees and misuse of interns are widespread issues.
- Small organizations with little output control large donor funds.
- Depression, substance abuse, and even suicidal thoughts have been reported among employees.
These issues have led to a breakdown in trust and accountability within the sector. It is time for civil society to reflect on its values and practices and work towards creating a more just and equitable environment for all.
