Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi

This paper examines the developments in the cooperative owned ginneries in Kenya from the mid 1970's, when the transition to the cooperative ownership mode took place, up to the present day. In particular, the study is concerned with surveying the impact of the cooperative ownership and management structures for the industrial performance in the cotton ginning sector in Kenya. It will be shown that many of the problems the cooperative ginneries have been facing, can be directly connected to the cooperative ownership and management mode, and can be analyzed separately from the general problems of the industry. It is argued that the success or failure in dealing with these cooperative specific problems will be one of the key factors affecting the success of those policies which aim at reviving the cotton industry in Kenya.