Application of Democratic Governance Principles in Advancing Effective Crisis Response and Recovery for Sustainable Development: A Case of Kenya

Purpose: Following the COVID-19 outbreak in 2019, countries, including Kenya, implemented containment measures that had a significant impact on direct contact and transmission, which was consistent with relatively low epidemic in Kenya (and other Sub-Saharan African countries with similar early containment measures), but they also caused significant economic insecurity. To advance effective crisis response and recovery, what sustainable steps can the government take to ensure that no citizen or place is left behind, particularly in a post-COVID world? Design/methodology/approach applied: A literature review approach coupled with qualitative research was employed to elucidate discussions and conclusions. Main findings: Response and recovery must adhere to fundamental democratic governance principles such as citizen participation, representation, openness and transparency, rule of law, competence and capacity, sustainability and long-term orientation, human rights, cultural diversity and social cohesion, and accountability. Practical implications: Leveraging democratic governance principles to advance effective crisis response and recovery can have a cumulative effect and deliver lessons from a local, national, regional, continental, and global perspective. These include exchange of information and dialogue on regulatory matters; transparency of national regulations, common rules and guidelines on conformity assessment procedures, and references to international standards; cooperation and regulatory alignment around measures. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences Vol. 1 2 , No. 12, 2022, E-ISSN: 2222-6990 © 2022 HRMARS 1069 Originality/value: Though democratic governance may not be an obvious focus during a crisis, it is during these trying times that leadership and management structures are put to the test, exposed for their strengths and flaws, and remembered by stakeholders in the long run. Democratic governance principles promote a comprehensive approach to crisis response and recovery, increasing multi-stakeholder engagement while striving to leave no one or no place behind as envisioned by the African Union(AU) Agenda 2063 aspirations and the United Nations (UN) Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).