Kenya is set to rethink its social protection system as the government and development partners explore ways of moving beyond cash transfers to more sustainable support for vulnerable households.
The 4th Kenya Social Protection Conference, which opens Tuesday at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi, will bring together policymakers, development partners and other stakeholders to examine how the country can build a social protection system capable of responding to growing climate, economic and social pressures.
Government cash transfer programmes have expanded significantly over the past two decades and now reach more than 1.7 million households.
The conference will focus on whether the existing system can be strengthened to provide more than immediate financial assistance, including helping vulnerable families withstand shocks and improve their livelihoods.
Among the key issues on the agenda are climate-responsive social protection, expanding coverage, strengthening livelihoods, digital transformation and securing sustainable financing.
Participants will also examine the role of county governments in delivering social protection services and improving access for communities that remain outside existing programmes.
The conference is expected to draw government officials, development partners and representatives of international organisations, including UNICEF, UNHCR and FAO.
Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua and Principal Secretary Joseph Motari are among the government officials expected to attend.
President William Ruto is scheduled to officially open the conference on Tuesday from 10am to 1pm.
Mutua will preside over the closing ceremony on Thursday, October 1, from 2pm to 3:30pm.
The meeting comes as Kenya faces a combination of economic pressures, climate-related shocks and changing social needs, raising questions about how social protection programmes can evolve to provide longer-term resilience.
The discussions are expected to shape debate on the future of social protection in Kenya, including how government and its partners can make programmes more inclusive, responsive and financially sustainable.
The conference runs from September 29 to October 1.
