Nakuru: The County Government of Nakuru is working on an action plan to strengthen social protection and social security systems aimed at addressing poverty, vulnerability, and inequality among marginalized groups, informal sector workers, and rural communities. County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Gender, Youth, Sports, and Social Services, Elga Riaga, emphasized the need for significant efforts to enhance the reach and effectiveness of Kenya’s rapidly evolving social protection sector.
According to Kenya News Agency, Riaga highlighted that while the expansion of social protection must be fiscally sustainable, increasing investment in this sector as the economy grows is a key global strategy. Social protection is effective at improving equality, which is vital for sustainable growth. Riaga made these remarks during the close of a two-day stakeholders’ workshop in Nakuru, which aimed to chart a roadmap for implementing the action plan.
Riaga stressed that the plan seeks to promote social justice, equity, and sustainable development for all residents of Nakuru. The plan includes preventive, promotive, protective, and transformative interventions to ensure all individuals enjoy a dignified life, access essential services, and are shielded from economic and social shocks. The workshop involved representatives from various organizations, including the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Social Health Authority (SHA).
The CECM emphasized the importance of implementing social protection programs transparently and accountably, noting their vital role in supporting vulnerable groups and promoting inclusive development. Kenya’s Social Protection Policy 2023 aims to support vulnerable citizens by focusing on income security, social health protection, shock-responsive social protection, and complementarity programs.
Riaga underlined the critical role of strengthening social protection systems in addressing poverty and social exclusion, particularly among marginalized populations. The Constitution of Kenya mandates both national and county governments to uphold citizens’ economic, social, and cultural rights. She called for more effective social protection programs to build resilience and improve responses to shocks affecting vulnerable families, including climate-related ones.
She also noted that social protection for children requires integrating complementary services such as healthcare, nutrition, and education into cash transfer schemes. An inclusive social protection system can alleviate poverty, reduce malnutrition, and enhance food security, leading to stability, reduced vulnerability, increased prosperity, and a more resilient workforce.
County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Leonard Bor, stated that Governor Susan Kihika’s administration continues to implement programs aimed at supporting vulnerable households and improving livelihoods through agriculture. These interventions, including subsidized farm inputs and irrigation development, aim to improve food security and build resilient communities.
Gladys Kamuren, Chief Officer for Gender and Inclusivity, outlined Nakuru’s social protection initiatives, which include support services for vulnerable groups such as older persons, children, and persons with disabilities. The county has established a home for vulnerable elderly persons and is equipping a home for street children as part of its efforts to strengthen child protection and rehabilitation services.
Participants at the workshop emphasized the importance of collaboration among government agencies, employers, workers’ organizations, and development partners in expanding social protection coverage. The International Labour Organization (ILO) and other stakeholders highlighted social protection as a basic human right and a key tool for reducing poverty and vulnerability.
The workshop is expected to guide the development of an inclusive county action plan that will enhance social protection systems and improve the well-being of Nakuru residents through sustained stakeholder collaboration. The government, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, implements the Inua Jamii Programme, providing cash transfers to vulnerable households.
UNICEF notes that social protection programs help improve access to healthcare and education while reducing poverty’s long-term effects. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), access to social protection and economic opportunities are key social determinants of health, reducing health inequalities.
Stakeholders at the workshop expressed optimism that enhanced collaboration will expand access to social protection services and improve the quality of life for vulnerable populations across Nakuru County.
