PHILANTHROPY AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION: PERSPECTIVES OF MAJOR PHILANTHROPIC ACTORS IN NAIROBI, KENYA Maurice Omondi

This paper examines how major philanthropic actors in Nairobi, Kenya, understand their roles in driving social change. Rather than focusing on why wealthy individuals give, it explores their conceptions of responsible philanthropy, particularly regarding moral obligations, community participation, and resource mobilisation. Guided by interpretivist and constructivist philosophies, the study adopted a case study design involving ten purposively selected philanthropic actors, including philanthropists and individuals involved in philanthropic decision-making within foundations, trusts, nonprofit organisations, businesses, and social-impact initiatives. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings reveal four interconnected dimensions of philanthropic engagement. First, participants understood philanthropy as a relational practice grounded in values and relationships. Second, they emphasised strengthening individuals and communities rather than fostering dependency. Third, they highlighted community agency, particularly people's capacity to lead initiatives and make decisions affecting their lives. Finally, they viewed financial and non-financial resources, including skills, networks, good governance, and institutional support, as complementary instruments for achieving sustainable change. Accordingly, philanthropy was understood not merely as financial giving but as a broader process of social transformation. The study's reliance on self-reported perspectives from ten philanthropic actors in Nairobi limits the generalisability of its findings, while the absence of independent outcome assessments prevents conclusions about the measurable effects of their interventions. Nevertheless, the study advances scholarship on elite philanthropy by distinguishing motivations for giving from understandings of social transformation. Practically, it suggests that philanthropy should be evaluated not only by the resources contributed but also by donors' sense of responsibility, their support for community capabilities and agency, and the quality of their relationships with recipient communities. By presenting qualitative evidence from an under-researched African context, the study offers an original perspective on how philanthropic actors understand their roles in advancing lasting social change.