In well-functioning societies, social welfare programs are implemented as a matter of right over need. This means that these nations have acknowledged that, at any one time, there will always be members of society, who for one reason or another, will need financial assistance to live a dignified life.
One can also argue that the quality of life for a nation, will always be judged by how a nation treats its most underprivileged members.
Looking at Kenya from a historical perspective, all presidents have implemented social welfare programs in one form or another. For instance, the founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta’s ambition and dream for Kenya was to have a country rid of ignorance, poverty and disease; factors that take away human dignity in its most basic form.
When the late Daniel Moi took over the presidency, anecdotal evidence talks of a president who intentionally kept the cost of living low, in a bid to shield the underprivileged members of society. We reminisce about the Maziwa ya Nyayo program targeting school-going kids.
It was during the late President Kibaki’s tenure that social welfare programs were implemented with tremendous results to show for it. We had the cash transfer for orphans and vulnerable children, and older persons cash transfer, popularly known as Pesa ya Wazee. We also got bursary funds aimed at helping parents take their children to school. We had the Linda Mama programme that took care of mothers and their newborns, for free, which helped reduce infant mortality.
Read: President William Ruto To Set Up New Funding Body Ahead Of HELB Scrap Off
Kibaki also introduced free primary education as well as free tuition for secondary schools, which have in recent years raised literacy levels in the country. Kibaki cared for all members of society, at all levels. HELB was also made more accessible during Kibaki’s era, with increased funding. One can argue that he was the president who helped realize Kenya’s founding dream of a society rid of ignorance, disease and poverty.
When President Uhuru Kenyatta took over, at the bare minimum, he was able to maintain these programs running. Through the Office of the First Lady, they also expanded the scope and reach of maternal health care in this country.
It then becomes a worrying trend when President Ruto is slowly scrapping away programs meant to help the very base that he won his presidency on and at a time when the cost of living is soaring beyond the reach of so many Kenyans. He has scrapped the programs like the free cash transfer from banks to mobile wallets, pesa ya wazee, Linda Mama, and now we can see what is happening to the education sector. This is only in the 100 days in office. Doesn’t bottom-up entail taking care of these groups of Kenyans?
No society can possibly progress with honour and dignity when its most underprivileged are denied basic human rights because of capitalism.
Email your news TIPS to editor@thesharpdaily.com
