Social Work - Kenya/Africa

28/08/2026

HOW SHOULD WE MEASURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GOVERNMENT?

I heard someone say that every person measures the effectiveness of government by their personal experience of it. I think there is considerable truth in this—provided we expand the meaning of “personal experience” beyond what happens to us individually.

Ask yourself:

Have you seen security improve in your area?

Have roads, water, healthcare, schools and other infrastructure actually improved where you live?

Do you personally know people who, despite having no powerful connections, have genuinely benefited from government programmes?

Do you know graduates or other ordinary citizens who applied through the proper channels, did not know a godfather, did not pay a bribe, and nevertheless obtained jobs, scholarships, contracts or other opportunities?

Do you know a poor person whose circumstances you understand who has received meaningful support—such as housing, business capital, education sponsorship or another opportunity that has genuinely changed their life?

These may be more convincing measures than simply being told that the economy is growing, billions have been spent, thousands of projects have been launched, or millions of people have benefited.

Government exists to improve people's lives. Therefore, its success should ultimately be visible in the lives of the people.

This does not mean every citizen must personally receive money or a government benefit before declaring a government successful. Rather, there should be visible, fairly distributed and verifiable improvements in our communities. Ordinary people should also be able to identify real beneficiaries whose success did not depend on political connections, corruption or privilege.

Conversely, if we have not benefited ourselves, and cannot identify people within our close circles and communities who have genuinely benefited, while government continues to report enormous achievements, it is reasonable to ... (Continued on comment)

27/08/2026

TIME ALONE DOES NOT GUARANTEE PROGRESS..

Founded on 19- 4-2011.We are a church based on the New Testament Church principles. We are committed to helping you know the whole Word of God free from error and the traditions of men.We hold that what you believe will affect everything else you do in life. Understanding the whole Word of God and t...

27/08/2026

THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA AT 16 🇰🇪

16 years ago, Kenya adopted a Constitution that captured many aspirations of modern democratic leadership. But a good Constitution only changes lives when its provisions are faithfully put into action.

Devolution should bring resources and development closer to the people—without corruption, political victimization, excessive taxation, nepotism or unequal distribution of opportunities and projects. Citizens should have a meaningful voice in deciding the development they need.

The Bill of Rights should protect every person's dignity, freedoms and social and economic rights, including access to healthcare, education and housing, while protecting citizens from abuse of power.

Inclusivity and equity should create genuine opportunities for women, youth, persons with disabilities, minorities and marginalized communities.

The rule of law and independent institutions should ensure that no person is above the Constitution and that the Judiciary can protect citizens and hold government accountable.

Kenya also aspired to issue-based politics, peaceful and fair elections, respectful political competition and leadership that unites rather than divides. Losers should accept defeat with dignity and prepare for another opportunity, while winners should serve everyone—including those who did not vote for them—and accept constructive criticism without using power to crush dissent.

Sixteen years later, our greatest task is not merely admiring the Constitution, but living it.

Let us move towards 100% implementation of the Constitution of Kenya—not only in words, but in leadership, institutions and everyday life. 🇰🇪

24/08/2026

Social Work and Social Workers on:

Work and Organizations Social Work

Work occupies a major part of people's lives, while organizations influence people's wellbeing and social relationships.

Social workers can contribute to:

Employee welfare.

Workplace counselling.

Conflict resolution.

Employee assistance programmes.

Occupational social work.

Family-work balance.

Workplace harassment interventions.

Disability inclusion.

Reintegration after illness or injury.

Stress management.

Organizational change.

Labour relations.

Retrenchment and redundancy support.

Retirement preparation.

Workplace social justice.

Social workers can also help organizations understand that employee wellbeing is connected to organizational productivity, retention, relationships and institutional culture.

A series of these 15 articles written by:
ELIJAH MUTUA KIRIMA.
SOCIAL WORKER.
THE WORD OF GOD IS THE WILL OF GOD.

24/08/2026

Social Work and Social Workers on:

Race and Ethnicity Social Work

Race and ethnicity can influence identity, social relationships, access to opportunities and exposure to discrimination.

Social workers can:

Address racial and ethnic discrimination.

Support marginalized communities.

Promote social inclusion.

Help communities manage ethnic conflicts.

Provide culturally responsive services.

Support migrants and displaced persons.

Address institutional discrimination.

Promote positive identity development.

Facilitate dialogue between different communities.

Advocate for equal treatment and access to services.

In the African context, this also connects with ethnicity, tribal identity, indigenous communities, migration and historical inequalities.

24/08/2026

Social Work and Social Workers on:

Gender Social Work

Gender influences opportunities, expectations, relationships, employment and access to resources.

Social workers address:

Gender-based violence.

Domestic violence.

Child marriage.

Sexual exploitation.

Gender discrimination.

Unequal access to education and employment.

Women's economic empowerment.

Men's and boys' vulnerability.

Gender-related family conflicts.

Protection of children from gender-based harm.

The goal is not simply to treat men and women identically in every circumstance, but to recognize different vulnerabilities and barriers while promoting equality, dignity and justice.

24/08/2026

Social Work and Social Workers on:

Criminology Social Work

Social workers contribute to understanding and responding to crime from a social and human perspective.

Their work includes:

Prevention of juvenile delinquency.

Rehabilitation of offenders.

Probation and aftercare.

Support for victims of crime.

Prison social work.

Reintegration of former offenders.

Family interventions.

Substance-use interventions.

Community crime prevention.

Research into social causes of crime.

Advocacy for fair treatment within justice systems.

Social work emphasizes that accountability and rehabilitation can coexist. Society must protect victims and communities while also addressing the social factors that contribute to offending.

24/08/2026

Social Work and Social Workers in:

Environmental Social Work

Environmental problems increasingly have direct social consequences.

Environmental social work addresses:

Climate change.

Drought and food insecurity.

Flooding and displacement.

Environmental pollution.

Unsafe housing.

Environmental inequality.

Loss of livelihoods.

Displacement caused by development projects.

Natural-resource conflicts.

Disaster preparedness and recovery.

Social workers can advocate for environmental justice, particularly where poor communities bear a disproportionate share of environmental harm.

For example, a community affected by pollution may need not only medical assistance but also legal advocacy, environmental education, relocation assistance and economic support.

24/08/2026

Social Work and Social Workers on:

Political Social Work.

Politics determines many of the policies and resources that affect people's lives.

Political social work can involve:

Human-rights advocacy.

Civic education.

Policy advocacy.

Community organizing.

Social justice campaigns.

Participation in social movements.

Advocacy for marginalized populations.

Analysis of how government policies affect vulnerable groups.

Promoting democratic participation.

Supporting peaceful conflict resolution.

Advocating for accountable public institutions.

Social workers should help people understand that they are not merely recipients of government services but citizens with rights, responsibilities and legitimate participation in public affairs.

24/08/2026

Social Work and Social Workers on:

Medical Matters.

Health is not only a biological issue. Housing, poverty, education, family relationships, employment, environment and social support can strongly influence health.

Medical and health social workers can:

Assess patients' social circumstances.

Provide psychosocial suport.

Help patients and familie understand and navigate healthcare systems.

Link vulnerable patients with resources.
Support treatment adherence.
Assist families dealing with chronic illness.
Participate in discharge and after-care planning.

Support peple with disabilities.

Assist with rehabilitation.

Work with families during serious illness and bereavement.

Advocate for equitable healthcare access.

Address social determinants of health.

The social worker therefore helps connect the hospital to the person's home, family and wider community.