By focusing on 'sustainable' community development in the Kenyan case, this book highlights the importance of integrating ecological concerns in socio-economic and cultural development processes. Although the value of communities in the development process stems from the democratic principle of 'government of the people, for the people and by the people, ' this volume introduces another overlooked component in this democratic philosophy: government 'with the people.' This underlies the authors' thesis that national development is hinged on community development, and not the other way around. This calls for a people and environment centred governance system. Further, communities should increasingly take responsibility for their destiny by holding the political leadership of the day to account on all matters development.
