The Politics of Revitalising Agriculture in Kenya

Poulton, Colin; Kanyinga, Karuti

doi:10.1111/dpr.12080

Cited by 34 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Regarding Moi's agricultural policy, increasing maize prices and switching the focus from export promotion to food security after the introduction of multiparty elections, are two issues that support my argument about the impact of institutional change on policy and incumbent's strategic policy choice to reward its loyal voters(lofchie 1994;Minde et al 2008;Poulton and Kanyinga 2014).…”

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confidence: 74%

“…While Raila Odinga served as a prime minister in 2008-13, he did not cater to the policy needs of his backers. Some say that while pursuing the presidency, Odinga wanted to been seen as a national leader rather than a candidate who just acted in his own parochial interests(Poulton and Kanyinga 2014).18 The information is also from the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission Annual Report (2010; https ://www.eacc.go.ke/wp-conte nt/uploa ds/2019/02/EACC-Annual-Report-2010-2011.pdf).19 Their study focuses on Isiolo, Mandera, and Marsabit counties. They recognize that the support for the Jubilee coalition was not uniformly strong across all the constituencies, but was overall impressive.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Issue Ownership and Strategic Policy Choice in Multiparty Africa

Kim

2019

Politics & Policy

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While it is widely believed that democratic institutions are more responsive to citizens’ policy needs and interests, there has been little effort to examine how multiparty competition in consolidating democracies affects policy choices among competing economic interests. The questions of whether and how democracy influences such policy decisions tend to be ignored because many presume constituents in developing countries are only sensitive to relatively direct exchanges of favors for votes, such as distribution of clientelistic benefits or local/club goods. In this study, I examine some nationally important economic (sub)sectors whose policies favor some parts of the economy over others, targeting investment, taxes, and subsidies, trade protections, or regulation. Applying issue ownership theory to two cases—Ghana and Kenya—I find that partisan competition leads incumbent governments to pursue policies that help ensure economic gains to their electoral supporters at the expense of the opposition backers’ interests. Related Articles Kostadinova, Tatiana, and Petia Kostadinova. 2016. “Party Promises, Voter Understanding, and Mandate Responsiveness in East European Politics.” Politics & Policy 44 (1): 5‐34. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12145 Pelizzo, Riccardo, and Zim Nwokora. 2016. “Bridging the Divide: Measuring Party System Change and Classifying Party Systems.” Politics & Policy 44 (6): 1017‐1052. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12188 Pelizzo, Riccardo, and Zim Nwokora. 2018. “Party System Change and the Quality of Democracy in East Africa.” Politics & Policy 46 (3): 505‐528. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12255

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confidence: 74%

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confidence: 99%

Issue Ownership and Strategic Policy Choice in Multiparty Africa

Kim

2019

Politics & Policy

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“…This is in spite of a bold strategy (Strategy for Revitalizing Agriculture, SRA) that had presidential backing to change them. Why is it so in a democracy, which in theory should strengthen the poor, rural majority in the country [24]? It followed that challenges of food insecurity, wide spread poverty and poor agricultural output still remained.…”

Section: Weak/inappropriate Institutionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Considerations for the shift in roles of national and county governance towards the realization of food security in Kenya

Wafula¹,

Odula²

2018

AJFAND

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The international community's view on the state's role in a country's development and by extension food security situation is currently very positive. As a means to improve governance, decentralization in its many forms is being advocated all over the world. In August of 2010, Kenya embraced a new system of governance which involved the devolution of the central government and public participation as its new and critical components. This implied a shift in the roles of national and county governance towards the achievement of food security. Since food security is a multi-dimensional phenomenon, it is affected by many factors including governance. Thus, the government among other actors, plays a critical role in the achievement of food security. The scope of this review was 'Good Food Security Governance' within the national context, specifically focusing on the two tiers of government; national and county. This study aimed to call to attention the areas under governance in need of special attention by outlining the history of Kenya's political economy that has contributed to the current state of food insecurity. It also seeks to reinforce government's role in food security and propose possible key roles the national and county governments could embrace towards the realization of food security. There is need to eradicate corruption, streamline land tenure systems through effective land reforms, strengthen institutions that were weakened during former government regimes and empower county governments. The role of governments at both county and national level in food security should be reinforced by viewing food security as a public good and on the basis of the right to food as stipulated in the constitution of Kenya. While the national government needs to focus on capacity building of county governments, spurring economic growth, aiding poor rural farmers and putting in place social safety nets, the county government's role should be the identification and implementation of context-specific integrated approaches to improve food security of their peoples. In conclusion, if these considerations are to be properly addressed then governance for food security in Kenya can be improved.

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“…Agriculture in Kenya is dominated by small-scale farmers, 1 accounting for 65% of total agricultural production (Poulton and Kanyinga, 2013) and 51% of the labour force in the sector (Alila and Atieno, 2006). In Kenya, as in many parts of Africa, crop losses attributed to wildlife and pests are a costly and unending struggle for smallholder farmers.…”

Section: Pests and Smallholdersmentioning

confidence: 99%