Charity begins at home for most Kenyans

Just two weeks to Christmas when the spirit of giving to the less fortunate abounds, it is now clear that Kenyans contribute to charity in large numbers.

Kenyans have defied this year’s harsh economic times to donate generously to the hungry, family members, street children and institutions for the destitute, according to a new survey.

Results of the survey by Ipsos-Synovate shows that 75 people in every 100 aged 18 years and above made donations of at least Sh1,000 between October last year and this year.

Three out of four Kenyans who responded to the nationwide survey said they had given money or some other form of assistance during the period.

Family and friends

“The beneficiaries of this generosity were mostly family and friends as opposed to charitable organisations,” said Ipsos-Synovate managing director Maggie Ireri.

The survey found that more than half of Kenyans, (51 per cent) are willing to contribute Sh1,000 per annum to help other people or institutions.

Twenty three per cent are willing to contribute between Sh1,000 and Sh3,000.

Only nine per cent are willing to give between Sh3,001 and Sh5,000 per annum.

According to the study, much of the help goes to people known to the donors, and not strangers, perhaps a confirmation that the African culture of helping relatives and close friends is still intact.

During the year, three quarters (75 per cent) of Kenyans assisted their immediate family members.

Some 61 per cent helped extended family members while a slightly higher number (64 per cent) helped friends.

Nearly half of the people helped street beggars.

According to the study, 18 in every 100 Kenyans make a donation when it is meant for a national campaign, with Nyanza leading the pack with 52 per cent of the people saying they had made a donation.

Eight per cent make donations when a credible institution is involved and another eight per cent do so only when the event is widely publicised.

Eastern Province had the highest number of people who said they regularly donated money to a charity (59 per cent). It was followed by Central Province (57 per cent) and Rift Valley (54 per cent).

The study appears to confirm a trend by Kenyans in the Diaspora who remit billions of shillings to the country annually.

According to Central Bank reports, remittances wired into the country by Kenyans in the Diaspora mostly went to members of their families and relatives.

Only a small proportion of the remittances is invested in other areas like real estate and shares on the stock market.

“Our survey shows that Kenyans abroad just mimic what their compatriots here are doing when it comes to giving donations,” Ms Ireri said.

This survey also shows that most of the money donated to people locally was transferred through mobile transfer services such as M-Pesa and Airtel Money, among others.

Living in rural areas

The services have become a way of life as many people now use them to transfer money to relatives, most of them living in rural areas.

A quick, cheap and secure method of sending money was bound to be embraced by many people, Ms Ireri said.

Kenyans who donated to charities supported children’s homes.

Some 37 per cent of the respondents said they had sent some money to child-centred organisations while 24 per cent donated to health-related institutions.

The recently concluded Kenyans for Kenya campaign received donations from 15 per cent of the people covered by the survey.

The initiative was meant to raise money for starving people in northern Kenya.

Although the initial target was Sh500 million, the figure eventually shot up to Sh1 billion.