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African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development
Rural Outreach Program
ISSN: 1684-5358 EISSN: 1684-5358
Vol. 18, No. 3, 2018, pp. 13776-13791
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Bioline Code: nd18064
Full paper language: English
Document type: Review Article
Document available free of charge
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African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2018, pp. 13776-13791
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CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE SHIFT IN ROLES OF NATIONAL AND COUNTY GOVERNANCE TOWARDS THE REALIZATION OF FOOD SECURITY IN KENYA
Wafula, EN & Odula, O
Abstract
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.
Keywords
Kenya; Governance; Decentralization; Roles; Food Security; Political Economy; County
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