ONE VILLAGE ONE PRODUCT (OVOP) – REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN KENYA

Abstract

The paper investigates the development of One Village One Product (OVOP) movement as a strategy to attainregional sustainability and independence in the devolved regional government structures in Kenya as entrenchedin the new political dispensation. The research aimed at identifying the different products initiated in differentregions. OVOP movement implementation is an initiative to brand local and regional products in achievingsustainable development of the dispersed geographical environment in all sectors especially agriculture and therich human resource that Kenya is endowed with. The paper assessed the outcome of the pioneer projects inKenya in Laikipia West, Yatta and Nyeri North and the subsequent projects in different regions.The sample was derived from strata comprising of different stakeholders in the OVOP implementation. Bothquantitative and qualitative data was used to obtain the information about the implementation and the operationof the pilot projects and outcomes. A comparison between the initials projects implemented in the pioneerprojects was done using t statistics and ANOVA test. The results revealed that the products dealt with wereduplicated lacking innovativeness and uniqueness making them less attractive. Differentiation of products a coreaspect in attaining competitive advantage locally and globally. Majority of the projects under the OVOPprogramme were not successful. Generally, OVOP programme is a viable initiative but did not come up withcompetitive products. The major recommendation is that the OVOP movement should be localized to portray thepositive image rather than taking it to be a political and competition tool between the regional governments.