Demographic Patterns of Socio-economic Needs; Informing Public Resource Allocation Criteria in Kenya

Abstract

The resource allocation criteria in Kenya have been slowly evolving and seem to take baby steps at fulfilling global and regional principles and practices that define resource allocation and distribution (Kinuthia&Lakin, 2016). Devolution was a major change ushered in by the 2010 Constitution of Kenya. Although the people attached great expectations to the era of Devolution, the socioeconomic aspirations seem to be out of their reach with the slow transfer of resources to thecounties(Ngigi&Busolo,2019).Theflowofpublicresourcesthroughbudgetshasbeenslow and disbursements lesser. The current trends in inflation and cost of living (KNBS monthly inflation reports) seem to be quickly deteriorating the welfare levels of the population. Whereas the Civil Society Groups and local and international donors have united with the government in their complementary role of attaining the SDG 2030 dream of promoting welfare and enhancing livelihoods, deliberate allocations by the government to needful and socioeconomically deprived counties are yet to be seen (Kayode, Muhammad, & Bello, 2021). The undesirable microeconomic outcome of Kenya’s resource allocation criteria through the increasingly wide discrepancy between the rich and the poor and the deprived and privileged households cannot be overlooked.More Kenyans daily are increasingly unable to afford their basic needs and sustain themselves in the unprecedented harsh macroeconomic environment (See Kenya Food Security Outlook 2022) (Kumar, 2021). Poor access to basic needs leads to indebtedness which tends to hinder welfare improvement (Chamboko & Guvuriro, 2021). In the wake of these developments and socially undesirable outcomes,this study seeks to develop a resource allocation framework to address the needs and gaps of the socioeconomically deprived in Kenya.