Governing Kenya: Public Policy in Theory and Practice

✍ Scribed by Gedion Onyango (editor), Goran Hyden (editor)

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Year: 2021
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 334
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book is authored by some of the renowned scholars in Africa who take on the task to understand how Kenya is governed in this century from a public policy perspective. The book’s public policy approach addresses three general and pertinent questions: (1) how are policies made in a political context where change is called for, but institutional legacies tend to stand in the way? (2) how are power and authority shared among institutional actors in government and society? and, (3) how effective is policymaking at a time when policy problems are becoming increasingly complex and involving multiple stakeholders in Africa? This book provides an updated and relevant foundation for teaching policy, politics and administration in Kenya. It is also a useful guide for politicians, the civil society, and businesses with an interest in how Kenya is governed. Furthermore, it addresses issues of comparability: how does the Kenyan case fit into a wider African context of policymaking?

‘This volume is a major contribution to comparative policy analysis by focusing on the policy processes in Kenya, a country undergoing modernization of its economic and political institutions. Written by experts with a keen eye for the commonalities and differences the country shares with other nations, it covers a range of topics like the role of experts and politicians in policymaking, the nature of public accountability, the impact of social media on policy actors, and the challenges of teaching policy studies in the country. As a first comprehensive study of an African nation, Governing Kenya will remain a key text for years to come’.

―Michael Howlett, Burnaby Mountain Chair of Political Science, Simon Fraser University, Canada

‘A superb example of development scholarship which sets aside ‘best practice’ nostrums and focuses on governance challenges specific to time and place while holding on to a comparative perspective. Useful to scholars and practitioners not only in Kenya but across developing areas. I strongly recommend it!’

―Brian Levy teaches at the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, USA, and the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

‘This book is an exploration of important deliberations - of interest for those of us interested in deepening the understanding of public policy theories and their application within a specific African setting’.

―Wilson Muna, Lecturer of Public Policy, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya

‘This collection of think pieces on public policy in Kenya gives the reader theoretical and practical hooks critical to the analysis of the implementation of the sovereign policy document in Kenya, the 2010 Constitution’.

―Willy Mutunga, Chief Justice & President of the Supreme Court, Republic of Kenya, 2011-2016

‘Governing Kenya provides acomprehensive analysis of public policymaking in Kenya. The book integrates public policy theory with extensive empirical examples to provide a valuable portrait of the political and economic influences on policy choices in this important African country. The editors have brought together a group of significant scholars to produce an invaluable contribution to the literature on public policy in Africa’.

―B. Guy Peters, Maurice Folk Professor of American Government, University of Pittsburgh, USA

✦ Table of Contents

Contents
Notes on Contributors
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Boxes
Chapter 1: Introduction
Introduction
References
Chapter 2: Africa’s Governance Imperatives: How Kenya Has Responded
Introduction
The Bottomland of Global Indices
Africa’s “Natural Societies”
The African State-Nation
The Kenyan Situation
The Evolution of Governance Modes
The 2010 Constitution
From Text to Practice
Conclusion
References
Chapter 3: The Global Nature of Policy Problems
Introduction
Globalization and Public Policy: A Brief Overview
Historical Legacy and Dependency
Globalization and Interdependence in Public Policy
National Climate Change Policy and Action Plan
The Policy Process
Policy Outcomes and Enduring Issues
From Counterterrorism to Counter Violence Extremism Policy
Global Context
The Policy Process
The National Strategy to Counter Violent Extremism
Policy Outcomes and Enduring Issues
Conclusion
References
Chapter 4: The Powers of Agenda-Setting: The Role of Politicians and Experts
Introduction
Problem Definition in Policy Theory
Elitism Versus Pluralism
Politicians Versus Experts
The Power of Problem Definition
The Kenyan Policymaking Context
Experts and Politicians
Conclusion
References
Chapter 5: Legislative Policymaking in Kenya
Introduction
Legislative Functions
Law-Making
Oversight
Representation
How African Legislators Behave
Legislative Policymaking in Kenya
Pre-independence (1900s–1950s)
Independence (1960–1964)
Post-independence (1965–2002)
Post One-Party (2002–Present)
Legislative Development: A Status Report
Law-Making
Oversight
Representation
Constituency Services
Conclusion
References
Chapter 6: Political Parties and Public Policymaking
Introduction
Linking Political Parties and Public Policy
Political Parties: Representing Whom and How?
Political Parties and Public Administration
Political Parties in Africa: An Overview
Parties and Public Policies in East Africa
Parties and Policymaking in Kenya
Organizing Capacity-Building
Fostering Public Participation
Promoting Gender Equality
Defending National Security
Concluding Remarks
References
Chapter 7: The Politics of Implementation at County Level: Realizing Devolution in Kenya
Introduction
Background and Objectives
Tensions in Implementation
National Assembly Versus Senate
National Versus County Executive
Governor Versus County Assembly
Governors Versus Transition Authority
Public Participation as a Source of Tension
Prospects for Realizing Devolution
The Revenue Imperative
The Delivery Imperative
The Political Imperative
Conclusion
References
Chapter 8: Policy Implementation as Principal-Agent Problem: The Case of Kenya Wildlife Service
Introduction
The 2010 Constitution
The Principal-Agent Model
KWS as Agent and Principal
KWS Too Big to Fail?
The Multiple Principal Problem
Lack of Policy Continuity
Overlapping Policy Jurisdictions
International Obligations
The Agent Motivation Challenge
The Agent-Community Relation
Policy Results
Conclusion
References
Chapter 9: Public Accountability: State-Society Relations in Kenya
Introduction
Main Types and Functions of Public Accountability
Public Accountability in Practice
Separation of Power
Competition Over State Power
Transparency of Public Action
The Lack of Integrity of Public Officials
Implications for Policymaking
References
Chapter 10: Media and Policymaking in Kenya: Framing in Contested Public Spaces
Introduction
Media as a Deliberative Space: Rethinking Theory and Practice
Media Framing and Public Policy Deliberation in Kenya
Debating the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act 2018
Deliberative Spaces for Policymaking: The Challenges
In Search of Unforced Consensus
Emphasis on Process Rather than the Outcome
Conclusion
References
Chapter 11: The Politics of External Resource Mobilization: From Foreign Aid to Foreign Investment
Introduction
Kenya Between Foreign Aid and Foreign Investment
Kenya’s Approach to External Resource Mobilization
Understanding Policy Choice Amidst Constraints
Kenya’s Engagement with China
The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Project
Ignoring Feasibility Considerations
Shortfall in Revenue
Declining Commitment in Neighbouring Countries
Conclusion
References
Chapter 12: Taxation Systems and Public Policy in Kenya: Unpacking the Unwritten Tax Treaty Policy
Introduction
Why Tax Treaties?
Tax Treaty Policy
Anatomy of Tax Treaty Policy
Tax Treaty Policy Frameworks in Africa
The Case for a Kenyan Tax Treaty Policy
Motivations
Selection of Treaty Partners
Anticipation of Statutory and Constitutional Changes
Treaty Negotiating Process
Hindrances to the Implementation of Kenya’s Tax Treaty Policy
Lack of Political Will
Lack of Continuous State Commitment to Policy
Lack of Appropriate Capacity
Lack of Transparency
Concluding Remarks
References
Chapter 13: Institutions and Policy Reforms in Kenya: From State to Regime Focus
Introduction
Institutional Reform: State or Regime?
The Kenyan State 1964–1992: Reforms, Then Decline
The Jomo Kenyatta Era, 1963–1978
The First Phase of the Moi Era, 1978–1992
The Shift to Regime Focus, 1992 to Date
The Second Phase of the Moi Era, 1992–2002
The Kibaki Era, 2002–2012
The Uhuru Kenyatta Era, 2013 to Date
Conclusion
References
Chapter 14: Building and Reforming Institutions: From Technology Transfer to Policy Networks
Introduction
Conceptualizing Reform
Rationality Versus Politics
Organization Versus Institution
Africa’s Problematic Public Institutions
Building Institutions: The Kenyan Experience
The Role of Policy Networks
Meaning and Origin of the Concept
Examples of Policy Networks in Kenya
The Untapped Potential of Policy Networks
Conclusion
References
Chapter 15: Kenya: A Comparative East African Perspective
Introduction
Four Neighbours: Four Policy Regimes
Precolonial Legacies
Emerging Regimes
What Difference Does the Regime Make?
Regime and Development
Regime and Governance
How Do Policies Develop?
References
Chapter 16: The Evolution of Public Policy Studies in Kenya
Introduction
Debating Public Policy in Theory and Practice
The Shifting Policy Debates in Kenya
The Period of Optimism, 1960–1975
Sessional Paper No. 10: African and Socialist?
Bureaucracy or Development Administration?
One Political Party or Two?
The Period of Defiance, 1975–1995
The Period of Restoration, 1990–2010
Conclusion
References
Chapter 17: Teaching Public Policy in Kenya: Approaches and Current Issues
Introduction
Theoretical Perspectives
Formulation—Decision-making Implementation—Evaluation
Problem Identification and Definition
Policy Formulation
Policymaking
Policy Implementation
Policy Evaluation
Teaching Challenges in Kenya
Main Issues
The Global Dimensions of National Policy
The Historical Roots of Policy
Policy and Politics Not Aligned
The Privileged Position of Civil Servants
Teaching Challenges
Dearth of Teaching Material
Link Between Theory and Practice
Bringing Researchers and Practitioners Together
Conclusion
References
Index