Firms should give back to the community

Issues relating to corporate social responsibility (CSR) have taken hold of every corner of our world, including Kenya.

In some ways, CSR has contributed positively to development across burgeoning industries such as agriculture and banking sector, telecommunication and ICT among others.

Besides raking in significant foreign exchange earnings for the economy and the farmers, Kenya Tea Development Agency and its subsidiary companies are involved in a number of CSR activities that we all need to be proud of.

As part of good CSR, the KTDA Foundation has sponsored needy and bright pupils from tea growing zones to advance their studies in high school. It does this by paying tuition fee for over 300 beneficiaries, who are studying in different schools countrywide.

The pioneer class sat their KCSE last year, and 55 of the 65 students scored C+ and above and are set to join university. In Western economies, consumers have gone a notch higher by purchasing products and services only from companies that practice meaningful CSR.

I believe KTDA and other companies are taking the right direction. I hope more companies will follow suit so that Africa is not left behind in the race for stronger economies.

Although the potential for CSR in alleviating poverty is increasingly acknowledged, the work of reaching out to communities remains somehow questionable.

Today, it is common to see business organisations dishing out cash and handouts to the deserving communities in the name of CSR. But that in its entirety is not true CSR; that is only being philanthropic. True CSR has a sustainable approach and one that has an impact on communities. We have the duty to make the world a better place.