Philanthropy in Kenya: The Mobile-Money ‘Harambee’ Spirit

If you stop any Kenyan on the streets of Nairobi and ask them if they’re a philanthropist, their most likely answer is “No,” but if you ask them how many fundraising groups they’re in, you’ll most likely get a resounding “Too many!” shares KCDF’s Executive Director, Grace Maingi.

Mobile money apps and social media platforms have provided a conducive environment for quick and efficient fundraising initiatives in Kenya that thrive on our Harambee spirit. These have led to various opportunities for the growth of community philanthropy in Kenya through the quick mobilization of financial resources towards national causes, including funds for drought relief, scholarships, community projects and on a more familial level, burial expenses and medical bills of loved ones.