Factors Influencing The Implementation Of Social Transfer Programmes In Kenya: A Case Of Orphans And Vulnerable Children Cash Transfer In Nginda Location, Embu West District

Abstract

The problem of orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya has been on the increase. Estimated 6million children require special care and protection with approximately 2.4million of these being orphans. Social structures are changing as parents die at younger ages and in greater numbers leaving children vulnerable. Orphans are generally cared for through traditional mechanisms such as being absorbed in the existing family structures. However, this safety net has been heavily stressed as extended families and communities face more difficulties in their effort to care for the growing number of orphans. Little external support has been provided to these families to enable them to provide this essential social function. The study sought to investigate the factors influencing the implementation of the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Cash Transfer Programme in Nginda location of Embu West District which has 252 beneficiaries in the programme. The study examined how community identification of beneficiaries (targeting) influenced implementation of the Orphan and Vulnerable Children Cash Transfer in Nginda location of Embu West District, Examined whether the mode of payment influenced implementation of the Orphan and Vulnerable Children Cash Transfer in Nginda location of Embu West District , Sought to establish whether demographic characteristics of the beneficiaries influenced the implementation of the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Cash Transfer in Nginda location of Embu West District, and examined how resource allocation by the Government influenced the implementation of the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Cash Transfer in Nginda location of Embu West District. Descriptive research design was used to collect data from a sample of 75 households benefiting from the programme and 1 officer from the implementing agency. Cluster sampling was used since there was a complete list of beneficiaries. The sample was obtained from systematic cluster sampling by putting the population into clusters of three household heads using mobilization lists from the District Children’s Office. Systematically the first house hold head in each cluster was selected to take part in the study. Primary data was collected using a questionnaire developed by the researcher while secondary data was got from both published and unpublished literature. The study found out that caregivers took part in community targeting and there was a high significance of 0.000 and a coefficient correlation of .440 between targeting and the number of children accessing school. A large number of caregivers were female, aged grandparents while payment were unpredictable and there was low correlation 0.11 between mode of payment and children access to education, however, payments were made through the bank and which as mode of payment was convenient. However, it was found out that resource allocation posed a major challenge to the implementing agency as resources allocated did not match the size and growth of the programme. The researcher recommends that there should be an elaborate system of enrolling into the programme children who become orphaned and are from poor background. The amount of money transferred to caregivers should be reviewed regularly depending on market prices of goods and services and that transfer benefit should not be standard for all household but should be pegged on individual household needs and the number of children a caregiver is taking care of. A well-established system of linkages needs to be put in place to link the Orphans and Vulnerable children to other service providers for support