Why the adversarial attitude? Mwingi South MP David Musila has become the latest critic of NGOs, accusing them of serving their own interests at the expense of local people. The MP accused the workers of the 20 or so NGOs operating in Mwingi of flashy lifestyles and little work on the ground.

At the centre of the debate on just how much impact NGOs have is the argument that local people can never quite put their finger on the resources at the organisations' disposal and the extent of their activities.

This is not a major issue for the larger NGOs, such as ActionAid-Kenya, that have a track record of achievement. The argument is not really whether or not NGO personnel sport huge four-wheel drive vehicles. These might well be necessary, given the rough terrain and poor conditions of roads in most of rural Kenya.

The question NGOs will have to address, and pretty soon too, if they are to retain their image, is the perceived secrecy with which they conduct their affairs. Whereas no one would advocate government controls on funding for NGOs, commitment to transparency and accountability demands that these organisations put in the public domain their annual reports and accounts just like other organisations of repute, many of whom enjoy no tax-free status.

In the absence of clear communication of intent and record of activities, it is inevitable that people will begin to look upon NGOs with suspicion.

The truth is that whereas NGOs have been very vocal in taking the government to task over its own spending and policies, little is known about their activities.

The chief concern for most NGO critics is: If they are not directly answerable to the people they claim to serve, how can anyone be certain they are on the right track?

Indeed, the boom in the sector has led to duplication of services and petty rivalries that result in poor coordination of development efforts. This modus operandi cannot do the community much good. Let NGOs come clean on what it is they do and what their aims are. and the suspicions will end.