The Government of Kenya is pleased to announce the creation of a Social Protection Fund aimed at supporting the nation’s most vulnerable families. This commitment reflects Kenya social protection priorities for the coming years, emphasizing the government’s focus on inclusive and sustainable support. In addition, the Inua Jamii programme will expand its reach to 2.5 million Kenyan households, lifting many more families out of poverty. The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection is currently providing more than KSh3.5 billion each month to vulnerable Kenyans through a range of social protection programmes.
The Inua Jamii initiative now supports 1.7 million beneficiaries, representing an increase of 500,000 previously excluded vulnerable Kenyans. The expansion of Inua Jamii is a key element of Kenya social protection strategy to reach more households. Payments have moved from commercial banks to mobile money platforms such as M‑PESA, making it easier for elderly and disabled recipients to receive funds close to home. Between fiscal years 2022‑23 and 2025‑26, a total of KSh7.947 billion was allocated for disability programmes, with KSh7.277 billion disbursed and utilized. During the same period over 330,000 persons with disabilities were newly registered, and the Cash Transfer Programme for persons with severe disabilities grew to 63,960 participants. Continued investment in cash transfers and disability programmes underscores Kenya social protection dedication to equity.
The conference also highlights the need for social protection to evolve beyond immediate cash assistance and help households build lasting livelihoods. The Kenya Social and Economic Inclusion Project (KSEIP) supports early childhood nutrition, addresses adolescent vulnerabilities, and strengthens economic participation for vulnerable families. National stunting among children under five has fallen from 26 percent in 2014 to 18.4 percent, while KSEIP encourages households to become entrepreneurs, farmers, workers, and suppliers. A new National School Meals Programme is set to roll out across all 47 counties, targeting learners in lower primary, upper primary, and junior secondary schools. The Ministry of Education, together with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the National Treasury, and other stakeholders, will develop policy, financing, governance, and implementation frameworks for a phased launch beginning in the first term of 2027. The new National School Meals Programme aligns with Kenya social protection goals of improving nutrition and education outcomes.
Kenya has strengthened its policy and legislative foundation for social protection over the past four years, enacting the Social Protection Policy 2023, Persons with Disabilities National Policy 2024, and the Social Protection Act 2025. The fourth Kenya Social Protection Conference will explore how these frameworks can be translated into stronger delivery and greater impact, focusing on adaptive and shock‑responsive systems, inclusive coverage, digital transformation, data, sustainable financing, livelihood strengthening, and coordination. These legislative advances strengthen Kenya social protection frameworks, ensuring more reliable and inclusive services for all. CS Alfred Mutua highlighted the importance of building a system that is predictable, sustainable, and capable of protecting vulnerable families against poverty, disability, old age, and climate shocks, and called for collaboration across all levels of government and with partners.