Cash Transfer Program and Education Access by Orphans in Public Secondary Schools in Kiambu County, Kenya
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Date
2025-10
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
The cash transfer program in Kiambu County, Kenya has significantly improved educational access for orphans in public secondary schools. But the County's cash transfer programs for disadvantaged children are only helping a tiny fraction of the orphans enrolled in public secondary schools. Consequently, the purpose of this research is to examine how a cash transfer program in Kiambu County, Kenya, affects the number of orphans able to attend public secondary schools there. The particular goals of this study were to determine how factors such as program coverage, distribution channels, targeting techniques, frequency of payments, and quantity of cash delivered affect the ability of orphans in Kiambu County, Kenya to attend public secondary schools for their education. Both capital theory and the theory of educational transformation served as frameworks for our investigation. The research strategy for this study is a descriptive one. We were directed by efforts on the secondary public schools in Kiambu County, Kenya. According to the Kiambu County Children's Office (2023), 540 beneficiary homes were surveyed. Additionally, 10 members of the Beneficiary Welfare Committee and 5 members of the Constituency Social Assistance Committee were asked to participate as respondents. Participants were chosen from each category using a simple random selection procedure, once the research sample has been selected using a stratified sampling method. A total of 232 people were included in the sample. The main data was gathered via a structured questionnaire. There was a total of 23 participants in the pilot trial. In order to prove that the evaluation measures what it claimed to, the study used validity procedures such as content validity, criteria validity, and face validity. The questionnaire's reliability was assessed using a Cronbach's alpha (α) test. The findings were presented in narrative form once the theme analysis approach has been applied to the qualitative data gathered from the open-ended questions. The quantitative data was analyzed using statistical methods that include standard deviation and mean. Data was shown visually via the use of tables and figures. The study found that the amount of cash distributed, frequency of payment, targeting mechanisms, delivery channels and program coverage were significantly related to the education access by orphans in public secondary schools in Kiambu County, Kenya. The study concludes that a higher cash distribution amount directly correlates with the ability of orphans to pay school fees and purchase necessary supplies such as textbooks, uniforms, and stationery. The monthly payments make education more accessible for families with irregular income, allowing them to budget more effectively. When orphans receive focused support, enrollment rates in public secondary schools generally rise. Programs that engage local communities in the educational process can be especially advantageous for orphans, as they often offer additional assistance, mentorship, and resources tailored to the needs of these vulnerable children. Factors such as the location of schools and the availability of transportation significantly influence orphans' ability to attend school. The study suggests that the County should seek grants from international organizations, NGOs, and foundations dedicated to education and child welfare. Additionally, the County should advocate for increased government funding specifically designated for orphans and vulnerable children in the education sector. It is also recommended that the County promote collaboration among government agencies, private sector partners, and educational institutions to establish sustainable funding and support systems. Furthermore, the County should implement community outreach initiatives to raise awareness about the importance of education
Description
A Research Project Submitted to the School of Business, Economics and Tourism in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Award of the Degree of Master of Business Administration (Project Management) of Kenyatta University. October, 2025
Supervisor
Morrisson Mutuku