A new budget analysis provides insights into how universal approaches like Universal Child Benefits (UCB) can expand social protection schemes to benefit over one million children in Kenya by 2030.
About 52.5% of the children are multi-dimensionally poor, about 42% are monetary poor, and about 36.2%are food poor.
Currently, at just 0.4% of GDP, the country’s social protection coverage lags the regional average of 2.1% – The Fiscal Space Analysis Report revealed.
If successfully implemented, these strategies will ensure more children benefit from social protection, reduce poverty, and foster long-term economic growth for a brighter future.
“Investing in children today will not only create long-term economic and social benefit, but the government that implements such bold and transformative change will have a lasting impact on the lives of Kenyans in the immediate future and on the country’s trajectory in the long term,” notes Save the Children Kenya and Madagascar Country Director Pornpun Jib Rabiltossaporn.
The report also notes that the country has the potential to implement and scale up a Universal Child Benefit (UCB) programme, despite current budget constraints.
It recommends a phased roll-out, beginning with the most vulnerable children, which offers a cost-effective way to address child poverty and promote long-term socioeconomic development.
“The Fiscal Space Analysis Report we are launching today illuminates possible revenue streams and cost-saving measures that the Country needs to adopt or consider to sustainably finance a UCB” noted Jane Muyanga-Kitili Director of the National Social Protection Secretariat giving remarks on behalf of Mr. Joseph Motari CBS, MBS, Principal Secretary for Social Protection.
Speaking during the launch on Thursday in Nairobi,Richard Obiga, Senior Programme Officer, Policy and Partnership Unit National Social Protection Secretariat cited the urgent need for increased investment in innovative financing strategies, and the adoption of universal approaches like Universal Child Benefit (UCB) to ensure equitable and comprehensive support for all children in the country.
“The report explores how the government could finance a universal child benefit program, which would provide unconditional cash transfers to all children, regardless of their socio-economic status,”He said.
While the government has made progress in expanding social protection programmes through targeted initiatives like Inua Jamii, and promoting inclusivity, only 11% of children in Kenya are benefiting from social protection programmes.
This coverage gap not only undermines the principle of universality but also risks perpetuating the intergenerational cycle of poverty, inequality, and exclusion if not addressed systematically.
There is therefore an urgent need for transformative actions to bridge the gaps and secure a brighter future for Kenya’s children.
One such action is expanding Universal Child Benefit (UCB) by boosting domestic revenue, strengthening partnerships, and exploring innovative financing.
Sentiments that where echoed by Enock Nyakundi, Head of Livelihoods at Save the Children Kenya Madagascar, advocating for the acceleration of universal child benefits.
He pointed out that the program would support children’s development, ensuring they reach their full potential and contribute to a productive society.
Nyakundi stressed the need for strong partnerships between the government and development partners to scale up the initiative and transition from targeted programs to more inclusive social protection systems.
Save the Children, through the Universal Child Benefit (UCB) project, is supporting the Government of Kenya through the State Department for Social Protection to generate evidence and conduct policy analysis for the sustainable expansion of child-sensitive social protection.
CJ Martha Koome Calls for Increased Funding to Protect Kenya’s Children’s Rights
Kenya’s Chief Justice, Martha Koome, is making a powerful case for boosting funding for the country’s justice system, emphasizing the urgent need to prioritize children’s rights.
Speaking at the 35th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) during the 2024 World Children’s Day celebrations, Koome urged government stakeholders and development partners to collaborate in advancing the welfare of Kenyan children.
“As Chief Justice of Kenya and Chairperson of NCAJ, I commit to working towards promoting, protecting, and fulfilling the rights of children as mandated by the CRC, the Constitution, and the Children Act, 2022,” Koome said.
She also highlighted the necessity of fast-tracking the implementation of the Children Act, 2022, a move critical to creating trauma-informed, child-centered courts that ensure equitable access to justice.Koome’s appeal is rooted in alarming statistics.
Children make up 43pc of Kenya’s population, according to UNICEF, which translates to 23.6 million young lives out of the country’s 55.3 million people as of 2023.
However, a 2021 study by UNICEF and the World Bank paints a grim picture: nearly half of Kenyan youth aged 18–24 endured physical, sexual, or emotional violence during their formative years.The long-term impacts are harrowing.
Violence in schools alone contributes to global lifetime earnings losses of a staggering $11 trillion, underlining the high economic and societal stakes.Beyond rhetoric, Chief Justice Koome is championing actionable steps.
She emphasized the importance of strengthening Children Court User Committees and aligning Kenya’s justice systems with both its constitutional mandates and international obligations under the CRC.UNICEF Kenya Representative Shaheen Nilofer echoed this sentiment, celebrating Kenya’s early ratification of the CRC in 1990.
“Kenya was one of the first countries in Africa to ratify the CRC, thus committing to fulfilling the rights of every child through its laws, policies, and practices,” Nilofer said.
This milestone underscores Kenya’s potential to lead by example in Africa—but only if collective efforts translate into tangible change. Increased investment in justice infrastructure and child welfare programs will be essential to achieving these goals.Chief Justice Koome’s call is more than a plea; it’s a rallying cry for the nation to prioritize its most vulnerable citizens.
As Kenya continues to navigate its developmental path, addressing violence against children and ensuring justice access will be central to building a society that values and protects its future generation.
