Harambee: A Community Effort for Social Change and Education in Kenya

• In Event: Contemporary Research Perspectives on African Transformative Education

Abstract

The purpose of this presentation is to share perspectives about harambee, the African populist effort that independent Kenyan leaders contrived to adapt education with a colonial legacy to their needs of nation-building. I discuss harambee as the Kenyan perceived solution to the problems of national development. I briefly define the harambee concept, its history, and the set up of community harambee organizations and their functioning and maintenance. I will conclude by sharing ideas about specific lessons from the harambee approach to community social change and education
Theoretical Perspectives
The period from 1945 to 1963 was tough, inhumane, as well as gruesome for the Kenyan Africans. This was the period in which the struggle by Kenyans against the British led to the attainment of Kenya’s independence. It was at the attainment of independence on December 12, 1963 that the Harambee concept became the national armor in nation building, aspirations and all matters of national development. Guided by the concept of joining efforts and working together in love, peace and unity and armed with socioeconomic prescience and political wisdom, alongside administrative knowledge, Kenya set out to become what it is today. Kenyatta, first prime minister and president of Kenya, called on Kenyans to “roll up their sleeves in a spirit of self-help to create the true fruits of Uhuru,” He asserted, “This is what we mean by “Harambee,” (Kenyatta, cited in Kenya, 1965, p. vi), which literally means “let’s pull together.” It is not only the country’s national motto, appearing on its coat of arms, but also the slogan for self-help. Kenyan’s institutions including schools embraced the principles of Uhuru.
Tom Mboya (1963) wrote the important Sessional Paper 10" on Harambee and the Principles of African Socialism and highlights the value of Harambee:

“Harambee cements the Kenyan structure of interdependence within the community, where each man knows he has certain responsibilities and duties and there are certain sanctions against those who do not fulfill expectations.
There is for instance inherent generosity within a tribe or a clan. From the moment a child is born, he/she is virtually the property of the whole clan and not just of his/her father and mother. He/she is expected to serve everybody and also to receive for everybody.

Methods/Data Source
The research methodology utilized in this paper was historical and library research (Patton, 2002) that allowed for a systematic and rigorous investigation of the events surrounding colonial imperialism and the revolution that led to the Kenyan independence.

Results/Conclusions/scientific significance
The research findings highlight the principles, structure of harambee, and strengths and challenges inherent in harambee-based social and school system. It highlights the essence of harambee, which is working together for the common good. Given the multicultural dimension of America’s schools today, educators will benefit from the principles of harambee. Across the U.S. many schools are embracing the concept of harambee, so this research contributes to a better understanding of the concept.

Author

• Alfred Taligoola Kisubi, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh