Practice of social assistance programmes in the improvement of the welfare of orphans and vulnerable children in Nyeri central district, Nyeri county, Kenya

Abstract

The social and economic impact of HIV and AIDS threaten the well-being and security of millions of children worldwide. As parents and other family members become ill, children take on greater responsibility for income generation, food production, and care of family members. International human rights instruments, such as the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 have long recognized social protection as a fundamental human right. It is estimated that more than 17.8 million children under 18 years world over have been orphaned as a result of HIV and AIDS. Kenya has an estimated over 2.4 million orphans and vulnerable children half of which have resulted from death of parents due to HIV and AIDS crisis. Social Assistance Programmes are increasingly being seen as a key tool in East and Southern Africa for combating the triple threat of chronic poverty, hunger and HIV and AIDS. The purpose of the study was to investigate the practice of Social Assistance Programmes in the improvement of the welfare of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) in Nyeri Central District, Nyeri County. The objectives of the study were to identify the types of social assistance programmes, examine management of social assistance programmes, and establish the mode of dispensation of the social assistance programmes, and how they influence improvement of the welfare of Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Nyeri Central District. This was measured in terms of the number of households having access to nutritious food and is food secure, number of OVCs enrolled, attending and retained in school, and the rate of mortality and morbidity in children five years and below. Literature reviewed established that evaluations of these programmes show that social protection directly reduces chronic poverty and vulnerability. The study used descriptive survey method. It involved both quantitative and qualitative data collection. The sample comprised of 216 respondents. Data was collected using questionnaires which were divided into sections and developed based on the research objectives in order to capture relevant information. They combined both open-ended and close-ended questions. Data was analyzed using SPSS and presented in tabular form. The findings revealed that both the Cash Transfer and Presidential Bursary Programmes for OVCs were available, operational and effective in meeting the needs of OVCs as indicated by 72.3% of the respondents. The study also established that the Programme‟s Management Committees and Children‟s Officer were allocating resources equitably and had reached the deserving OVCs as indicated by 69.4% and 60.3% of the respondents respectively. The study further found that there was laid down criteria for the identification of beneficiaries as indicated by 65.6% of the respondents, although the amount money given was not enough to cater for needs of OVCs according to 67.6% of the respondents. The study concluded that the types, management and the mode of dispensation of social assistance programmes influence the improvement of the welfare of Orphans and Vulnerable Children. This study has provided factual and documented knowledge on the achievements made by Social Assistance Programmes in the improvement of the welfare of OVCs in Nyeri Central District. The information will enable the implementers of the programmes identify the existing gaps, make effective strategic plans and advice the government accordingly in order to achieve the objectives.