THE ECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF ELDERS DEVELOPMENT GROUPS IN LAKE VICTORIA REGION

The inclusion of all segments of our population in the process of national development is an important challenge of our times. A number of studies have affirmed the resiliency, legitimacy and relevance of African elders in the socio-cultural, economic, educational and political lives of Africans, particularly in the rural areas. This paper takes up the case of elders, defined as people aged fifty and above, and highlights their contribution to the economic, educational and social development of Kenyan communities. The paper argues that with low level of Human development index in Nyanza province, in terms of poverty, educational performance, health, environment, culture, agriculture, industries, it is important that the accumulated knowledge and expertise of the elders be tapped and channeled to address the above issues. The paper gives the example of how two Elders Development groups in the two divisions of Kabondo and Kasipul have been structured to achieve this goal.