NAIROBI, Wednesday, November 19, 2025 (EAT) – The uncritical adoption of policies designed in foreign capitals is a deeply rooted practice across Africa, often leading to outcomes that fall short of their intended goals. For decades, international financial institutions and development partners have promoted 'one-size-fits-all' solutions that frequently overlook the unique socio-economic and political contexts of nations like Kenya, sparking a critical debate on the need for homegrown, evidence-based policymaking.

The Shadow of Structural Adjustment

The trend of policy importation gained significant momentum in the 1980s and 1990s through the Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) championed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. Facing economic instability and balance of payment crises, many African nations, including Kenya, adopted these programmes as a condition for receiving financial aid. The SAPs typically mandated fiscal austerity, trade liberalisation, privatisation of state-owned enterprises, and drastic reductions in public spending.

In Kenya, the effects were profound and widely debated. Proponents argued the reforms were necessary to correct macroeconomic imbalances. However, numerous analyses link SAPs to increased poverty and inequality, economic stagnation, and the deterioration of social services. The introduction of cost-sharing in education and health, for instance, made these essential services unaffordable for many vulnerable households. Critics argue that these programmes, designed with a focus on short-term stabilisation, often had a contractive impact on long-term growth and social welfare.

A Kenyan Case Study: Sectoral Impacts

The legacy of policy importation extends beyond the SAP era and continues to influence key sectors in Kenya. In agriculture, reforms aimed at market liberalisation and the withdrawal of state support, often pushed by donor conditionalities, have had mixed results. While some sectors like horticulture saw success stories, the broader agricultural sector suffered, impacting small-scale farmers who form the backbone of the rural economy. Similarly, trade policies that favour cheap imports can stifle local production, a concern raised in discussions around poultry and other agricultural products across West Africa.

In healthcare and education, externally designed financing models and reforms have been implemented with varying degrees of success. The push for privatisation and reduced government expenditure under SAPs led to significant challenges in service delivery. This history underscores a persistent challenge: policies that work in developed economies with strong safety nets and different market structures often fail when transplanted into the Kenyan context without significant adaptation.

The Push for Homegrown Solutions

In response to the shortcomings of imported models, there is a growing continental movement advocating for 'homegrown solutions' and greater policy sovereignty. This approach emphasizes the need for policies that are context-specific, evidence-based, and developed with the participation of local citizens. The Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), for example, was established to provide quality public policy advice to the government based on objective research and analysis of local issues.

The African Union's Agenda 2063 serves as a continent-wide blueprint for this vision, aiming to transform Africa into a global powerhouse driven by its own citizens and strategic framework. It prioritizes inclusive social and economic development, regional integration, and democratic governance, representing a shift from externally imposed conditionalities to an internally driven agenda.

Several African nations offer compelling examples of this approach. Rwanda has gained international recognition for its 'homegrown solutions' like the 'Gacaca' justice system and the 'Girinka' (one cow per poor family) programme, which are rooted in the country's cultural context and have contributed to poverty reduction and social cohesion. Similarly, countries like Botswana and Mauritius have been cited as success stories for leveraging developmental state models with strong, context-specific policies to achieve remarkable economic growth.

The Way Forward for Kenya

For Kenya, the path forward lies in strengthening its capacity for independent policy analysis and implementation. This involves investing in institutions like KIPPRA, fostering robust public participation in the policymaking process, and critically evaluating any proposed policy—regardless of its origin—for its suitability to the local context. As organizations like the Mo Ibrahim Foundation consistently highlight, good governance is intrinsically linked to the ability of a state to deliver public goods and services effectively, a task that requires tailored, not imported, strategies.

The challenge is not to reject foreign ideas outright, but to move from a paradigm of uncritical policy adoption to one of critical adaptation and innovation. By drawing lessons from both its own history and the successes of other African nations, Kenya can forge a development path that is both globally informed and firmly rooted in the realities and aspirations of its people.