The Limits of Policy Success:
The Case of the Dairy Sector
in Kenya
Rosemary Atieno, Ph.D.Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi,
Kenya
Future Agricultures Consortium Workshop onPolitics and Policy Processes for the
2008 World Development Report on Agriculture
22-23 January 2006Institute of Development Studies, UK
www.future-agricultures.org
WDR Politics and Policy Processes
WorkshopIDS – Jan 07
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WDR Politics and Policy Processes
WorkshopIDS – Jan 07
Agriculture Sector Policy-Making in Kenya
Policies since independence have varied from total control by the government to liberalisation, with market forces and private individuals playing important role
Role of Political Elite & Interest Groups1. Political environment has been a major factor in
determining policy initiatives and implementation
2. Concentration of power among ruling elite orientation of the policy priorities of government
3. Politics of patronage from Office of President on down
4. Parliamentary approval process serves as impediment
5. Nature of politics political factions/interest groups/alliances
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WDR Politics and Policy Processes
WorkshopIDS – Jan 07
www.future-agricultures.org
WDR Politics and Policy Processes
WorkshopIDS – Jan 07
Role of Donors
1. Donor-driven policies often have not received strong political support from elites
2. Establishment of new class of technocrats aim at overcoming prevailing resistance to change
Role of Civil Society/NGOs
1. Since mid-1990s, multi-party democracy rise of Civil Society advocacy and lobbying
2. Alliances between donors and Civil Society
3. Mobilisation of farmers/communities to engage in policy process
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WDR Politics and Policy Processes
WorkshopIDS – Jan 07
The Dairy Sector
1. The dairy sector viewed as long-running ‘success story’
2. Classic ‘New Agriculture’ case:– smallholder-based; – private-sector integrated; – pro-poor; – commercially orientated
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WDR Politics and Policy Processes
WorkshopIDS – Jan 07
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WDR Politics and Policy Processes
WorkshopIDS – Jan 07
Elements of Policy Success• Smallholder oriented from the start• Strong political backing across regimes • Focused on high-potential areas with
sound market infrastructure• Attractive to private investment• Effective farmer unions/groups• Consistent and strong donor support
But…unresolved issues remain • Post-liberalisation, policy mainly favours large-
scale dairy processors• Market access for smallholders; conflicts
between raw milk vendors (mainly women) and dairy processors (mainly men) gender dimension
• Legal and regulatory framework out dated and controlled by large processors
• Not transferable to lower potential areas same conditions do not exist
• How ‘pro-poor’ is this ‘success story’?
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WDR Politics and Policy Processes
WorkshopIDS – Jan 07
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WDR Politics and Policy Processes
WorkshopIDS – Jan 07
Lessons:
• Replicability need to locate policy in particular political and agroecological contexts (policy process)
• Distribution ‘pro-poor’ policy outcomes are not a given – requires strategic interventions at high levels (politics is important)