2 Political patronage and the expansion of cash transfer programmes in Kenya

Abstract

The Government of Kenya has run pilot cash transfer programmes since 2004 and formalised them as part of social protection policy in 2011. Subsequently, cash transfer programmes have steadily been expanded. Three of the programmes being implemented in all 290 constituencies have witnessed progressive increase in both the number of beneficiaries and budgetary allocation. Across Africa, studies on the recent initiation and expansion of social protection programmes (Nyambedha et al., 2003, UNICEF/UNAIDS, 2003; Handa and Stewart, 2008; Ikiara, 2009; UNAIDS, 2013) have overlooked the key role of politics in shaping the social protection agenda (Hickey, 2007). This chapter explores Kenya's cash transfer programmes as an indicator of the role of politics in the public policy process. The analysis focuses on the interests, motivations and incentives of different …