Family Futures

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onfronting

amily

overty

gies embraced. The department implements cash transfer

programmes for older persons and persons with severe disa-

bility, which started in 2005 and 2010 respectively, albeit on

a small scale. In the short period they have been in opera-

tion, evaluations have shown that these programmes are

starting to have a huge impact on addressing poverty and

vulnerability at the family level.

Cumulatively, the cash transfers (including transfers

to orphans and vulnerable children under the Children

Services) reach an estimated 500,000 households living in

extreme poverty and vulnerability. Given the poverty status,

this remains a small drop when compared to those in need.

Kenya, through promulgation of the new constitution (2010),

recognized the need for government to increasingly take care

of the vulnerable, in a progressive approach towards reali-

zation of a universal mechanism. The cash transfers, along

with other programmatic interventions, remain critical in

confronting poverty at the family level. Earlier evaluations

have shown clearly that families’ and households’ livelihoods

are being improved directly and through social investments

that have been made possible by the transfers.

The 2009 census identifies the households of PWDs

as constituting a high percentage of individuals living in

poverty. Although the disability movement in Kenya has

grown immensely, moving from a state of ‘don’t see, don’t

hear’ to embracing affirmative actions towards those that

live with disabilities, PWDs still live in extreme poverty

while experiencing much discrimination. The depart-

ment has walked this journey with the country through

programmes focused on mobilizing and supporting groups

of PWDs. These initiatives led to the development of the

Disability Act 2003, which has increasingly pushed for

realization of rights for PWDs, and opened space for their

participation in mainstream development. It has made

provision for institutional mechanisms to enforce imple-

mentation and created a national funding mechanism. The

disability movement has come a long way since the 1970s,

moving from a blind eye to matters of disability to full

recognition that disability concerns and interests must be

represented at all levels of national development through

disability mainstreaming.

Certainly, many challenges abound in the delivery of

these services that hamper the effectiveness and realization

of enhanced family well-being in Kenya. Many lessons have

been learned, and the room for improvement is immense.

Nonetheless, the efforts the department has put in place

towards confronting poverty at family level remain commend-

able and form an entry point for mitigating family poverty.

Rukanga Water and Sanitation Company

The journey in search of water began 20 years

ago for the Rukanga Water and Sanitation

Company (RuWaSCo). Their poor quality of life

necessitated a solution: women would walk 8

kilometres every day for water and development

activities took a back seat; farming was for

sustenance, and with livestock also using the

river, the spread of diseases was unchecked and

injuries on the banks were all too common.

Community members formed a self-help group

in 1989: the Rukanga water project. The initial

registration fee was Ksh 50 and the starting capital

share was Ksh 1,000 per household. Twenty years

later, IFAD began to engage with and support the

community. Share capital contribution increased

to Ksh 2,500. The community contribution was

25 per cent of the project, 5 per cent of which

was cash and 20 per cent labour – trenching

the 23 kilometres of main line and 60 kilometres

of branches that made up the 83-kilometre

distribution network.

The project was officially opened in March

2005. “We were overjoyed to see the first signs

of water in our homes,” recalled RuWaSCo

member Mrs Githure.

Without the daily trek for water, the women now

have more time for entrepreneurship activities. There

is a sense of dignity as the women no longer have to

bathe on river banks while fetching water. Incidents

of water borne diseases have been reduced; local

artisans have been trained and employed, while

attendants serve at communal water points to those

without direct access to water in their homes.

Members envision that all households, including

non-members, will be able to access water directly.

The Rukanga water committee is testament to the

realization of a dream.

Members of the RuWaSco outside their offices, and the water treatment unit built through IFAD

Images: Republic of Kenya, BFFS, IFAD, 2011