Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi at the floor of the house reading budget statement for the year 2026-2027 at Parliament Building in Nairobi on June 11, 2026./DOUGLAS OKIDDY
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has proposed an allocation of Sh41.8 billion for social protection programmes in the 2026/27 financial year, aimed at supporting vulnerable households and strengthening the country's social safety net.
Presenting the Budget Statement in Parliament on Thursday, Mbadi said social protection remains central to the government's efforts to reduce poverty, protect livelihoods and promote inclusive economic growth.
The allocation includes Sh24.6 billion for cash transfers to elderly persons, Sh8.9 billion for cash transfers to orphans and vulnerable children, and Sh1.5 billion for cash transfers to persons living with severe disabilities.
Mbadi said the programmes are intended to provide immediate relief to vulnerable households while helping sustain basic consumption among beneficiaries.
"Social safety nets remain central to the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda objective of poverty reduction and inclusive growth. Strong safety nets protect livelihoods, create pathways out of poverty and enable economically excluded households to participate in productive activities," Mbadi said.
The budget also allocates Sh4.3 billion to the Kenya Hunger Safety Net Programme, which supports vulnerable households in arid and semi-arid areas affected by drought and food insecurity.
In addition, Sh550 million has been proposed for the National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya, while the Child Welfare Society of Kenya will receive Sh1.1 billion.
The government has further allocated Sh200 million to support autism programmes as part of efforts to strengthen social protection and community support systems.
The allocations come as the government seeks to cushion vulnerable groups from economic hardships while enhancing access to social support services.
Beyond social protection, Mbadi announced funding for programmes targeting youth and women empowerment.
A total of Sh10.2 billion has been allocated to initiatives aimed at equipping young people with entrepreneurial and life skills, promoting employment opportunities and supporting youth-led enterprises.
Among the allocations is Sh2.5 billion for the National Youth Service, Sh4.9 billion for the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement programme and Sh1.6 billion for the Youth Employment Support Programme.
The government has also proposed Sh1 billion for film development services to support skills development, civic engagement and growth within the creative industry.
To enhance women's economic empowerment, the Treasury has allocated Sh402 million to the Women Enterprise Fund and Sh4.9 billion to the National Government Affirmative Action Fund.
Mbadi said the programmes are intended to advance gender equality, promote inclusion of women in decision-making and strengthen efforts to eliminate gender-based violence and harmful practices.
The Treasury CS told Parliament that the allocations form part of the government's broader strategy of reducing poverty, expanding opportunities for disadvantaged groups and ensuring no Kenyan is left behind in the country's development agenda.
