Kempe Ronald Hope, Sr. is Senior Economic Governance Advisor at the United Nations Development Programme in Nairobi, Kenya. He was previously the Principal Economic Adviser and Manager of the Governance and Economic Management Assistance Program  at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Liberia and Professor of Development Studies at the University of Botswana. He has published extensively on African and international development issues with more than 100 articles and more than 15 books and monographs.

• List of Figures and TablesAbbreviations and AcronymsPreface 1. Economic Performance and Socio-Economic TrendsSector  Performance Population, Labor, and Employment Poverty/Inequality and HIV/AIDS External TradePublic FinanceSavings and InvestmentConclusions2. Urbanization and Urban GrowthUrbanization TrendsDrivers of UrbanizationConsequences of Rapid UrbanizationManaging Rapid UrbanizationConclusions3. The Informal EconomyThe Nature of Kenya's Informal Economy Benefits of the Informal Economy Some Disbenefits of the Informal EconomyConclusions4. Corruption and DevelopmentWhy Corruption Persists: CausesCorruption, Development and Governance: ConsequencesTackling the Corruption Epidemic: ControlTowards More Effective Control: Key Lessons and Recommendations Conclusions5. Decentralization and Local GovernanceLocal Government Structure in Kenya Kenya's Potential Benefits from Devolved GovernmentImplementing Decentralization/DevolutionConclusions6. Public Sector Management and ReformPublic Sector Reform and TransformationPerformance Contracting as a Performance Management ToolConclusions7. Sustaining Growth and Development: Some Aspects of PolicySavings Mobilization Private Enterprise-Led Growth and Industrialization Infrastructure Development Engaging the Youth: Empowerment, Education, and Employment State Capability, Good Governance, and the Rule of LawConclusions8. Bringing in the Future: Beyond 2012The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission The Justice SystemDevolutionParliamentConclusions

This book is about the socio-economic development of Kenya from a political economy perspective. It is divided into eight separate but interlinked chapters that provide a detailed account of the political and socio-economic challenges Kenya faces; which include the country's historical context, the role of urbanization and the informal sector in the economic growth process of the country, poverty and inequality, and corruption among other challenges. The book also critically examines Kenya's political transition and the enactment of the new constitution, which provides a framework for devolution of power from the centre to forty-seven county-level administrations. It also highlights the causes and effects of the post-2007 election disputes that sparked violent conflicts among rival political and ethnic groups and plunged the country into political chaos, which tarnished Kenya's hard-earned reputation as a stable and prosperous democracy, a veritable world class tourist destination. This book not only highlights Kenya's current socio-economic and political problems, but it also provides policy prescriptions to address poor governance, poverty, inequality and sluggish economic growth. The book is of immense value to scholars and policymakers, students and representatives of international organizations that are interested in the political economy of Kenya." -Dr. Asfaw Kumssa, Coordinator, United Nations Centre for Regional Development Africa Office, Kenya

Kempe Ronald Hope, Sr. is Senior Economic Governance Advisor at the United Nations Development Programme in Nairobi, Kenya. He was previously the Principal Economic Adviser and Manager of the Governance and Economic Management Assistance Program  at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Liberia and Professor of Development Studies at the University of Botswana. He has published extensively on African and international development issues with more than 100 articles and more than 15 books and monographs.

• List of Figures and TablesAbbreviations and AcronymsPreface 1. Economic Performance and Socio-Economic TrendsSector  Performance Population, Labor, and Employment Poverty/Inequality and HIV/AIDS External TradePublic FinanceSavings and InvestmentConclusions2. Urbanization and Urban GrowthUrbanization TrendsDrivers of UrbanizationConsequences of Rapid UrbanizationManaging Rapid UrbanizationConclusions3. The Informal EconomyThe Nature of Kenya's Informal Economy Benefits of the Informal Economy Some Disbenefits of the Informal EconomyConclusions4. Corruption and DevelopmentWhy Corruption Persists: CausesCorruption, Development and Governance: ConsequencesTackling the Corruption Epidemic: ControlTowards More Effective Control: Key Lessons and Recommendations Conclusions5. Decentralization and Local GovernanceLocal Government Structure in Kenya Kenya's Potential Benefits from Devolved GovernmentImplementing Decentralization/DevolutionConclusions6. Public Sector Management and ReformPublic Sector Reform and TransformationPerformance Contracting as a Performance Management ToolConclusions7. Sustaining Growth and Development: Some Aspects of PolicySavings Mobilization Private Enterprise-Led Growth and Industrialization Infrastructure Development Engaging the Youth: Empowerment, Education, and Employment State Capability, Good Governance, and the Rule of LawConclusions8. Bringing in the Future: Beyond 2012The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission The Justice SystemDevolutionParliamentConclusions

This book is about the socio-economic development of Kenya from a political economy perspective. It is divided into eight separate but interlinked chapters that provide a detailed account of the political and socio-economic challenges Kenya faces; which include the country's historical context, the role of urbanization and the informal sector in the economic growth process of the country, poverty and inequality, and corruption among other challenges. The book also critically examines Kenya's political transition and the enactment of the new constitution, which provides a framework for devolution of power from the centre to forty-seven county-level administrations. It also highlights the causes and effects of the post-2007 election disputes that sparked violent conflicts among rival political and ethnic groups and plunged the country into political chaos, which tarnished Kenya's hard-earned reputation as a stable and prosperous democracy, a veritable world class tourist destination. This book not only highlights Kenya's current socio-economic and political problems, but it also provides policy prescriptions to address poor governance, poverty, inequality and sluggish economic growth. The book is of immense value to scholars and policymakers, students and representatives of international organizations that are interested in the political economy of Kenya." -Dr. Asfaw Kumssa, Coordinator, United Nations Centre for Regional Development Africa Office, Kenya

Kempe Ronald Hope, Sr. is Senior Economic Governance Advisor at the United Nations Development Programme in Nairobi, Kenya. He was previously the Principal Economic Adviser and Manager of the Governance and Economic Management Assistance Program  at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Liberia and Professor of Development Studies at the University of Botswana. He has published extensively on African and international development issues with more than 100 articles and more than 15 books and monographs.

• List of Figures and TablesAbbreviations and AcronymsPreface 1. Economic Performance and Socio-Economic TrendsSector  Performance Population, Labor, and Employment Poverty/Inequality and HIV/AIDS External TradePublic FinanceSavings and InvestmentConclusions2. Urbanization and Urban GrowthUrbanization TrendsDrivers of UrbanizationConsequences of Rapid UrbanizationManaging Rapid UrbanizationConclusions3. The Informal EconomyThe Nature of Kenya's Informal Economy Benefits of the Informal Economy Some Disbenefits of the Informal EconomyConclusions4. Corruption and DevelopmentWhy Corruption Persists: CausesCorruption, Development and Governance: ConsequencesTackling the Corruption Epidemic: ControlTowards More Effective Control: Key Lessons and Recommendations Conclusions5. Decentralization and Local GovernanceLocal Government Structure in Kenya Kenya's Potential Benefits from Devolved GovernmentImplementing Decentralization/DevolutionConclusions6. Public Sector Management and ReformPublic Sector Reform and TransformationPerformance Contracting as a Performance Management ToolConclusions7. Sustaining Growth and Development: Some Aspects of PolicySavings Mobilization Private Enterprise-Led Growth and Industrialization Infrastructure Development Engaging the Youth: Empowerment, Education, and Employment State Capability, Good Governance, and the Rule of LawConclusions8. Bringing in the Future: Beyond 2012The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission The Justice SystemDevolutionParliamentConclusions

This book is about the socio-economic development of Kenya from a political economy perspective. It is divided into eight separate but interlinked chapters that provide a detailed account of the political and socio-economic challenges Kenya faces; which include the country's historical context, the role of urbanization and the informal sector in the economic growth process of the country, poverty and inequality, and corruption among other challenges. The book also critically examines Kenya's political transition and the enactment of the new constitution, which provides a framework for devolution of power from the centre to forty-seven county-level administrations. It also highlights the causes and effects of the post-2007 election disputes that sparked violent conflicts among rival political and ethnic groups and plunged the country into political chaos, which tarnished Kenya's hard-earned reputation as a stable and prosperous democracy, a veritable world class tourist destination. This book not only highlights Kenya's current socio-economic and political problems, but it also provides policy prescriptions to address poor governance, poverty, inequality and sluggish economic growth. The book is of immense value to scholars and policymakers, students and representatives of international organizations that are interested in the political economy of Kenya." -Dr. Asfaw Kumssa, Coordinator, United Nations Centre for Regional Development Africa Office, Kenya