Kenyan-owned firms in the floriculture global value chain: A multi-level analysis of the historical development of local firms

The paper focuses on the floriculture industry in Kenya as a successful export-oriented agro-industry to analyze the interplay of multilevel factors that condition whether, when, and how local firms can enter and remain competitive (or not) in the floriculture global value chain. A historical overview consisting of four developmental stages with related factors and issues in each phase is presented building on in-depth insights from nine strategically selected local firms. The findings suggest that the global value chain factors (e.g. global and local linkages, end-markets and GVC actors) have been more significant for the development of local firms than the national institutional factors (e.g. state regulation, industrial policies and business associations). However, the paper stresses that the diversity of local firms in the floriculture industry in Kenya also requires accounting for firm-level factors (e.g. ownership, size, location and age) in order to grasp the multifaceted options for development available for local firms.