The Role of Military Forces in National Food Security Strategies a Comparative Analysis of Egypt and Kenya

Abstract

Food security is increasingly becoming hard to actualize in many countries, given the constellation of challenges that are posed by today’s world. Countries around the world are grappling with climate change, rising populations versus decreasing food reserves Demoralized farmers, endemic corruption, greed, incompetence, failed policies and lack of innovativeness to stay on top of the game by governments has put countries in a precarious situation in the area of food security. The objectives of this study were to: assess the contribution of the military to food security in Kenya and Egypt from 2010; to establish the factors contributing to a facilitative environment for effective involvement of the military in food security programmes in Kenya and Egypt from 2010; and, to investigate the constraints to effective participation of the military in achieving food security in Kenya and Egypt from 2010. A literature review was undertaken on the state of food security in Africa, Measures taken by the Government of Kenya to Achieve Food Security in Kenya and the capabilities of the Kenyan military. The study adopted a descriptive design and was conducted through document analysis based on a document analysis guide. The study found that the military plays a major role in food production and security in Egypt, producing up to 18% of the country’s food. The study also established that political security in Egypt is tied to food security; that a national level coordinating mechanism is critical to the military’s participation in food security in Egypt. It also found that the military in Kenya has a big impact in the country’s food security through the Kenya Ordinance Factories Corporation (KOFC). In Kenya, the success of food production initiatives after previous failures shows that the military can indeed contribute to the country’s food security, and that military interventions around the world, such as the US in Afghanistan, in Nigeria and Indonesia demonstrate that the military is capable of making a contribution to countries’ food security. Other findings indicate that fears linger over a virtual Egypt-style takeover of government by the military in Kenya.