The (In)Effectiveness of Poverty Reduction Plans from Above: A Case Study of Nairobi, 2005-2007

Abstract

The paper argues that the institutional framework put in place by the Kenyan government for poverty reduction in the period 2005-2007 in urban areas was inimical to participation, and thus not effective. The absence of sanction is the weakest element in the institutional framework. With the exception of the Environment Management and Coordination Act (EMCA), accountability is limited in these frameworks. While the institutional responses to poverty are diverse and growing, the analysis shows that these are generally notional. The stakeholder involvement is extensively applied as a tool for citizen participation. This stakeholder model has limitations that in the end render the frameworks as adopted less than fully responsive to the demands of poverty alleviation.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p970