Monday, 21 April, 2025
Social Protection Committee champions inclusive policy for the vulnerable in our society
Thursday, April 17, 2025Parliament Buildings
A National Assembly Committee is reviewing a Bill that seeks to establish systems that are efficient, data-driven and designed to respond with care.
The Social Protection Committee has engaged stakeholders to ensure the needs of vulnerable communities are central to policy decisions. As part of its public participation process, the Committee, chaired by Hon. Alice Ng’ang’a (Thika Town) held a meeting with the State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs, receiving detailed proposals to strengthen the Bill.
If passed, this law will ensure faster access to support for the vulnerable, a streamlined national registry to avoid gaps, increased rehabilitation services for the disabled and a framework that empowers counties to take local action on social welfare matters.
The Bill proposes the establishment of the National Board for Social Protection, a corporate entity mandated to design, coordinate and monitor all social protection interventions across the country. The Board’s expansive functions include advising the Cabinet Secretary, coordinating cross-sector collaboration and ensuring data-driven decision-making through a centralized social protection registry.
Orphans or vulnerable children, poor older members of society, persons with disabilities, persons in extreme poverty and persons affected by shocks are listed as persons in need within the Bill. It further outlines the social protection benefits as cash transfers, transfers in kind, rehabilitation services, psychosocial support, respite care, feeding programmes, homebased care and skill based programmes. These measures are geared towards ensuring the country’s most vulnerable are protected with dignity.
The Bill gives the Cabinet Secretary the authority to determine, through a gazette notice, the categories of persons in need of support. This flexible, responsive approach ensures the law can adapt to emerging societal needs and unanticipated crises, such as economic downturns or climate related disasters.
This law encompasses a multi-level approach. It empowers County Governments to localize social protection strategies, ensuring no region in the country is left behind. Counties would be guided on how to tailor interventions and allocate resources to meet the unique needs of their communities, while aligning with national policies.
“This Committee believes social protection should offer relief and more importantly, build long-term resilience measures to ensure our most vulnerable are supported fully by law.” Chairperson, Hon. Alice Ng’ang’a stated in her closing remarks.