From policy to plow: Who is getting it right on resilience in Kenyan agriculture?
Michael Kipkorir Kemboi, Oscar Otele, Adrino MazendaPurpose
This study examined models of success and patterns of fragmentation in the implementation of the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS) 2019–2029 and the National Horticulture Policy (NHP) 2012.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used a qualitative approach, with a purposive sample of 15 participants from five counties in Kenya. The Five Streams Framework (FSF) provides the theoretical basis for this analysis.
Findings
The results showed effective outcomes in the sorghum and macadamia value chains, while fragmentation occurred in both the National Fertilizer Subsidy Program (NFSP) and the horticultural value chain. These divergent outcomes were shaped by the interplay of sustained political will, sectoral prioritization, focusing events, the active role of policy entrepreneurs, institutional coordination and implementation capacity.
Research limitations/implications
This study draws on policy implementation perspectives from farmers and institutional officials in selected Kenyan value chains, limiting its generalizability. However, the framework-driven findings are replicable to other developing economies facing resilience implementation gaps and provide a lens for future cross-country comparative studies.
Originality/value
This study provides insights into agricultural policy implementation by applying the FSF to examine successful and failed policy outcomes, offering a nuanced understanding of the mechanisms that shape resilience policy effectiveness in emerging economies.