Policy process and the dairy sector in Kenya

by Otieno, R. / Future Agricultures Consortium , 2007 

This case study briefly explores the politics of the policy process behind the dairy sector in Kenya by examining the underlying policy narratives and the changing actors and networks associated with different interests. It lists the following reasons for the apparent sustained success of the smallholder dairy industry:

• A smallholder focus since independence
• Strong political backing across regimes since independence
• A focus on high potential areas with sound market infrastructure
• Long-term state support for productivity improvements and veterinary care
• Effective and consistent donor support for the sector
• Attractive to private investment, with substantial markets nearby in Nairobi
• Effective farmer unions and groups, with good political connections, able to lobby for their interests.

The paper finishes by listing the limits to the success of the smallholder dairy industry:

• Replication has not been as successful elsewhere within Kenya
• The distribution of benefits is not even
• Out-dated legal and regulatory frameworks, bureaucratic pressures and commercial and political biases against the informal trade may limit opportunities
• Strategic intervention to redress distributional imbalances may run counter to other policy emphases

Full paper available at http://www.future-agricultures.org/WDR/Briefing_Kenya_dairy.pdf