HOUSEHOLD UTILIZATION OF THE CASH TRANSFERS FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN (OVC) AND THE WELFARE OF THE ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN MAKUENI COUNTY, KENYA
Abstract
Cash transfers refer to monetary intervention programmes by non-governmental organizations and/or governments to vulnerable persons in the society made to promote their welfare. In Kenya, many of the orphaned children are faced with many challenges, including access to basic needs. The Kenyan Government has put many resources in social protection programmes, including Cash Transfers for Orphans and Vulnerable Children. Despite these efforts, studies have indicated that children in Kenya continue to suffer from poverty, malnutrition related diseases, lack of access to primary health care, child labor, sexual harassment, rape, stigma, discrimination and trauma. The objective of the study was to establish the relationship between the beneficiary’s household utilization of the Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children and the welfare of the Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Makueni County, Kenya. The anchoring theory was institutional theory. A descriptive research design was employed targeting 2,254 beneficiaries of Cash Transfers, 3 children’s officers and 12 chiefs. To sample 340 Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children beneficiaries, simple random sampling was used where else purposive sampling was used for all the chiefs and children’s officers (census), deemed key informants of the study. Primary data was collected by employing questionnaires and scheduled interviews. Qualitative data was analyzed by use of content analysis and the results were presented in themes. Analysis of quantitative data was aided by use of SPSS version 26. From the results, the welfare of Orphans and Vulnerable Children was also positively and statistically significant when correlated with household use of Orphans and Vulnerable Children cash transfer funds. The study recommended that Kenyan government should increase and fortify support beyond financial aid along with addressing mental and health issues. To further the goals of the fund, the Kenyan government should also fund financial literacy training for caregivers. The government and other interested parties should invest in improving the communication channels. The researcher suggested further studies on the effectiveness of the utilization of Cash Transfers for Orphans and Vulnerable Children and welfare of Orphans and Vulnerable Children.
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