BC-Department of Community Resource Management and Extension

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Sustainable Community Development: Dilemma of Options in Kenya
(Palgrave Macmillan, 2014) Waswa, F.; Kilalo, Christine Ruth Saru; Mwasaru, Dominic Mwambi
Although the theme of community development has quickly gained prominence in development studies, the emphasis has tended to be on the economic and social welfare of communities, with minimal reflection on the environmental sphere. This explains why the quality of ecosystems has generally deteriorated through the development process-thereby undermining the intended development, when viewed from a long-term perspective. By focusing on 'sustainable' community development in the Kenyan case, this book highlights the importance of integrating ecological concerns in socio-economic and cultural development processes. Although the value of communities in the development process stems from the democratic principle of 'government of the people, for the people and by the people,' this volume introduces another overlooked component in this democratic philosophy: government 'with the people.' This underlies the authors' thesis that national development is hinged on community development, and not the other way around. This calls for a people and environment centred governance system. Further, communities should increasingly take responsibility for their destiny by holding the political leadership of the day to account on all matters development