Resource information
There is now broad consensus among
policymakers that social protection is a powerful way to
fight poverty and promote inclusive growth. This
international consensus is most clearly articulated in the
African Union's Social Policy Framework (SPF), which
was endorsed by all African heads of state in 2009. The SPF
explains that social protection includes 'social
security measures and furthering income security; and also
the pursuit of an integrated policy approach that has a
strong developmental focus, such as job creation' the
SPF commits governments to progressively realizing a minimum
package of essential social protection that covers essential
health care and benefits for children, informal workers, the
unemployed, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Kenya
has a long history of investing in social protection. Social
protection in Kenya is defined as 'policies and
actions, including legislative measures, that enhance the
capacity of and opportunities for the poor and vulnerable to
improve and sustain their lives, livelihoods, and welfare,
that enable income-earners and their dependents to maintain
a reasonable level of income through decent work, and that
ensure access to affordable healthcare, social security, and
social assistance.' However, the coverage of its social
insurance schemes and safety net programs has tended to be
low and their effectiveness limited. In 2005/06 the rate of
poverty was 47 percent, although poverty rates were markedly
higher in rural areas (50 percent) than in urban areas (34
percent). They also varied among provinces from a high of 74
percent in the North Eastern province to a low of 22 percent
in Nairobi. This persistent poverty highlights the fact that
social protection can play an important role in the effort
to reduce poverty and promote human development in Kenya.
