Challenges of Promoting Food Security Policies in Kenya, (1990 -2017)

Abstract

Food security has over the years established to be a major global problem. The SSA saw most of its states succumb to the challenge of food security. Some of the challenges causing the growth of food uncertainty in the SSA include structural, political, environmental and economic factors. Research indicates that many parts of the African population are food insecure and malnourished. The main drive of the study is instituting the challenges of upholding food security guidelines in the continent, but more specifically in Kenya (1990-2017). The specific objectives; to evaluate the efforts of political will to the implementation of policies to do with food security specifically in Kenya; to determine the roles of institutional frameworks and policies that have been adopted for the successful means of achieving food security in Kenya. Many other scholars have written on the food security problems in Africa as well as in Kenya. But this study specifically aims to examine key issues that are related to policy failure, especially in this country. The review was deliberated to provide a theoretical background that provided the foundation for analyzing the problem of the study being investigated. The data collection instrument used was questionnaires; data collected was analyzed by creating descriptive percentage and frequencies and then presenting the statistics in form of charts, graphs, percentages and tables. Marxism theory was used to support the study. Karl Marx (1818-83) argues that there are three main assumptions of Marxism; first, they believe that human beings are cooperative as individuals but conflictual in groups; second they advance the argument that the competition among the groups especially between the owners of wealth and laborers is conflictual and authoritative; and third that the conflictual relationships that come as a result of natural expansion of capitalism seek radical change in the international economic system. Key findings of this study are; there is a general thinking among the people in the communities that it is the role of the government to provide them with the necessary means towards achieving food security; Study also found that there is lack of good will political leaders; the initiatives undertaken by the government are not beneficial and sustainable to the people and hence rendering themselves useless; In most cases, food security strategies are highly used than the policies themselves which are drafted and implemented on ad hoc basis when it comes to fighting food insecurity. It has been revealed in the study that there are little or no chances of involving the populace and other stakeholders when it comes to making policies to do with food security; there has been minimal implementation of policies to benefit the common man in the countryside. It can therefore be concluded that policy implementation in the advancement of achieving food security in Kenya is weak and slow. The Study recommends that efforts facilitated by the advancement of policies need to be enhanced to achieve food security in Kenya; Policy making and implementation in the achievement of food security is an area that needs improvement; Extensive involvement in policy formulation and execution, augmented by institutional devolution by all is required; Trade policies and other macroeconomic should be in favor of achieving food security of the rural people; Every policy regarding food security should be reviewed by relevant stakeholders before going to parliament; the government needs to increase food crop production by empowering the farmers and ensuring access of agricultural extension advices which in turn can result in improved yields.