Counties as hubs for stimulating investment in agrifood sectors in Kenya : A review of aquaculture, dairy and horticulture sectors in selected counties

Since the introduction of a devolved system of governance in Kenya in 2010, counties have been positioning themselves as hubs for catalysing socioeconomic development across the country, most of which is hinged on agrifood sectors. Based on analysis of the County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs) and interviews with private sector and governmental officials, this study explored how county governments support investment in selected priority agrifood sectors: aquaculture, dairy and horticulture. The results show that county governments mainly aim to improve productivity, value addition and marketing. Financing infrastructure and providing inputs and extension and advisory services are the most common types of interventions. The more mature the sector, the more support county governments aim to provide to strengthen institutional governance and innovation systems, while the private sector is investing in integrated supply chain systems. This is observed in both the dairy and horticulture sectors. All three sectors would benefit from stronger public–private sector collaboration, but guided by governments that put in place supportive policies, laws and regulations to promote nutrition-sensitive, sustainable and safe agrifood systems.