Administrative Structures and Implementation of the Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Lamu West Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

Kenya has had an increasing number of vulnerable and orphaned children; the population of children is projected to be 19 million with about 3.5 million being orphaned and vulnerable children. The study objective was to explore how administrative structures affect the implementation of the Cash Transfer for Orphans and vulnerable children in Lamu West subCounty. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. Lamu West has 1063 enrolled beneficiaries and the researcher assessed a sample population of 100 beneficiaries through the use of questionnaires and 10 administrative units was interviewed. The data collected from the interview schedule was assessed using thematic analysis while data from the questionnaires were analysed using descriptive and correlation analysis. The study findings were the lack of adequate funding and sensitisation of the program goals and structures among the beneficiaries and administrators in addition to the growing need for decentralisation of the program to enable faster response to changes targeting the households. From the study findings, the researcher was able to make the following recommendations; the need for increased sensitisation for the various committees concerned with the management of the program would aid in ensuring recruitment, enrolment, and overall supervision of the program is done efficiently. There is also a need to adequately fund the management of the program to ensure its overall coordination.