The Government, in consultation with development partners in the Sectoral Group for Social Protection (SGSP) has called for collaborative efforts towards social protection for resilient, equitable and sustainable systems that will create a lasting impact on the communities.
Speaking at a multisectoral stakeholders’ sensitization forum in Nairobi, Public Service, Gender, Senior Citizens Affairs and Special Programmes, CS Prof. Margaret Kobia, noted that it was a great idea for the Social Protection Programme, Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) and Gender sector to connect and come together in overlapping areas and give value to Kenyans.
Prof. Kobia lauded the cash transfer programme that was launched to combat drought by distribution of funds to help in getting food for those in areas experiencing drought.
“We have been on a journey of cash transfer for a long time and because of that consecutive effort, I was even able to go to the field with the World Food Programme and saw how the women groups who have received the cash transfer are focused and gaining a lot from the programme,” she stated.
The CS highlighted that government is working out policies to improve the livelihoods of the vulnerable people, people living in ASAL, people in informal sector and those living below the poverty line, adding that in working together with the development partners, this goal could be achieved.
She also noted that the development partners could help by looking at a particular niche and identifying areas to help as well as helping the government understand how it could be made better.
UNICEF Kenya Representative Maniza Zaman in her remarks stated that they started this structure a year ago to come together as partners and have a coordinated coherent policy dialogue to support the Government’s priorities and bring effectiveness in this area of social protection.
She also mentioned the state of social protection in development of Kenya not just for now, but also for the future and urged the government to elevate it further.
By Hamdi Mohamud and Oscar Oganga
