The Effectiveness of Kenya’s Covid-19 Cash Transfer Program: A Case Study of Kibra, Nairobi County

In the event of a global crisis such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the use of Cash Transfers as buffers that assist in livelihood sustenance is necessitated. The most vulnerable populations are usually targeted and governments may choose to prioritize those living in informal settlements while guaranteeing them payments to support them to meet their household basic needs. Following the global outbreak of the pandemic, the Kenyan parliament passed several economic laws including tax law amendments aimed to cushion citizens from the negative economic effects of the pandemic. The measures included social protection interventions in the form of cash transfers and public works programs targeting poor and vulnerable households. The study sought to assess the effectiveness of Kenya’s eight-month Covid-19 cash transfer program and whether the objective of cushioning its recipients from the economic shock of Covid-19 was met. The study used the capability approach and the theory of change for cash transfers. The study location was Kibra informal settlement in Nairobi County in Kenya, where a total of 209 households were targeted and 3 key informants were interviewed. Snowballing sampling technique was used to sample 209 respondents and purposive sampling techniques was employed to select 1 chief, 1 village Elder and 1 social Protection representative. An embedded mixed methods research design was used. The quantitative data was collated and analyzed using SPSS and presented in form of figures, tabulation, graphs and charts. The qualitative data obtained from the interview guide was analyzed thematically and the data interpreted the various aspects of the research topic. Findings revealed that the transfers slightly raised household income and most households spent the cash in buying food and paying rent. It was also noted that the amount was sufficient for food accessibility but insufficient for food stability for most people. Similarly, having food throughout and getting 3 meals a day was not possible for these people during covid-19 where stability could not be achieved because the amount of money was insufficient. Finally the cash transfer program that the Kenyan government offered during the Covid-19 pandemic to the households was not enough to sustain their livelihoods. In the recommendations, the government including the state department of social protection, the local administration and community leaders should work more collaboratively in implementing sustainable programs for pandemics like Covid-19 or disasters that leave many people destitute. This will boost the capacity of the vulnerable households to withstand calamities and improve or sustain their livelihoods.