By S, KNA
Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya and his Labour and Social Protection counterpart Alfred Mutua, have called for increased budgetary allocations to fast-track programmes targeting youth, senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and other vulnerable groups.
The two Cabinet Secretaries appeared before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Social Protection in Mombasa, where they outlined key policies, ongoing programmes, and funding gaps affecting the social protection sector.
The CSs affirmed that strengthening social protection frameworks is critical to ensuring inclusive growth, dignity, and sustainable empowerment for Kenya’s most vulnerable citizens.
CS Mvurya said that although the country has made notable progress under the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda, investment in social capital has not kept pace with economic reforms.
“We have agreed that our country is progressing well under the economic transformation agenda; however, there is a need for deliberate investment in social capital to empower the youth, PWDs, and vulnerable groups,” Mvurya said.
He noted that the State Department for Youth Affairs is facing a Sh17.38 billion budget shortfall, a gap that has constrained the expansion of transformative youth empowerment programmes.
He further emphasised that emerging and evolving social needs require structured and predictable funding to accelerate impact.
CS Mutua echoed the sentiments, noting that lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic exposed gaps in Kenya’s social protection systems.
“We learnt from Covid-19 that there were insufficient social protection buffers. These groups deserve dignity and structured support to uplift their livelihoods. The Treasury has, for long, reduced funding in several budget cycles, but that has to change,” said Mutua.
He added that, President William Ruto, remains firmly committed to youth empowerment and social protection initiatives, pointing to flagship programmes such as NYOTA as evidence of the government’s resolve, while stressing that enhanced allocations are necessary to scale up impact.
Alice Ng’ang’a, the Chairperson of the Committee, also backed the call for increased funding, noting that rising numbers among vulnerable populations reflect growing demand for social services.
