Protección Social

Estableciendo pisos de protección social
y sistemas integrales de seguridad social

Kenya

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Situación y prioridades

Situación de la protección social

The social protection sector has seen progress, with policies shifting towards universal programmes with a lifecycle approach. However, there are still significant coverage gaps in the number and types of benefits, particularly within the informal economy, which forms 83.6% of the workforce (2019).

Contributory social protection is administered through the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), which provide access to healthcare and pensions (old-age, survivors, and invalidity) respectively. Coverage of social security and benefit levels remain limited, and the adequacy of benefits needs to be addressed. In 2019, the former National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) had 11 million members, while the NSSF had 4.2 million members. In 2018, Kenya introduced a universal social pension for persons over the age of 70. Other targeted non-contributory programs, including those for orphans, drought-affected households, and people with severe disabilities, reached 12% of the population in 2023. Given the extensive informal economy, a national strategy for the extension of social protection to workers in the informal and rural economy has been developed by the government and launched in 2023. Programmes for workers in the informal economy include the SHIF and a voluntary savings scheme operated by the NSSF (Haba Haba), launched in 2019. New benefits for workers in the informal economy, such as a maternity income benefit, have also been designed. A priority for UN partners is the inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers into national social protection schemes and aligning partner-provided assistance through the Enhanced Single Registry (ESR).

See also ISSA country profiles
COVID-19 and other crises

The economic impact of the coronavirus exposed the gaps within Kenya’s social protection system, where only 10.1% of the population is covered in at least one area. Approximately 1 million social assistance beneficiaries received a one-off payment of 8,000 Kenyan shillings (US$74). However, around 1.7 million Kenyans lost their jobs by June 2020, hastening the demand for the establishment of an unemployment insurance fund to benefit formal sector workers. Overall, the effects of COVID-19 have increased awareness of the importance of a comprehensive social protection system and have presented opportunities for progress in an already conducive political environment.

Visit the Social Protection COVID-19 Monitor
Prioridades del gobierno

The Government of Kenya is playing a proactive role in the development of social protection. The revised National Social Protection Policy and the Social Protection Investment Plan have not yet been formally adopted (as of February 2022). However, they will be aligned with ILO Recommendation 202 and Convention 102 and take a universal approach. Priorities include:

  • Extension of social health protection to currently uncovered groups
  • Transition the NSSF from a provident fund into a full pension fund with higher contribution levels
  • Introduction of a universal child grant and disability benefit
  • Introduction of a maternity income benefit for women in the informal economy
  • Extension of social protection to the informal and rural economy workers
  • Extension of the Enhanced Single Registry and associated social assistance programs

Proyectos y programas de la OIT

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Resultados

Over the past 5 years, the ILO has provided technical guidance during the development of the Social Protection Investment Plan (2018), for the development of the National Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for Social Protection (2019), and the development of the National Social Protection Policy. The ILO has also engaged in advocacy efforts around the extension of social protection to the informal economy.

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Brechas en el financiamiento / Apoyar a la OIT

US$ 200.000

Support to SHIF on the extension of coverage to currently uncovered populations

US$ 150.000

Support to Government on the implementation of the maternity income benefit

US$ 500.000

Continue work in extending social security to the informal economy, and including ensuring programmes are HIV and disability-sensitive

US$ 300.000

Continue work on enhancing social security benefits – Old age, work injury, maternity protection

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