One Village One Product (OVOP) ? Regional Sustainable Development in Kenya

The paper investigates the development of One Village One Product (OVOP) movement as a strategy to attain regional sustainability and independence in the devolved regional government structures in Kenya as entrenched in the new political dispensation. The research aimed at identifying the different products initiated in different regions. OVOP movement implementation is an initiative to brand local and regional products in achieving sustainable development of the dispersed geographical environment in all sectors especially agriculture and the rich human resource that Kenya is endowed with. The paper assessed the outcome of the pioneer projects in Kenya 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. Both quantitative and qualitative data was used to obtain the information about the implementation and the operation of the pilot projects and outcomes. A comparison between the initials projects implemented in the pioneer projects was done using t statistics and ANOVA test. The results revealed that the products dealt with were duplicated lacking innovativeness and uniqueness making them less attractive. Differentiation of products a core aspect in attaining competitive advantage locally and globally. Majority of the projects under the OVOP programme were not successful. Generally, OVOP programme is a viable initiative but did not come up with competitive products. The major recommendation is that the OVOP movement should be localized to portray the positive image rather than taking it to be a political and competition tool between the regional governments.