Many people were skeptical when the government first introduced cash stipends for elderly Kenyans and widows raising children. That was nearly a decade ago and almost everyone believed it was a passing cloud and that the program wouldn’t last. But who would blame them? This is a country where most welfare promises arrive with utmost fanfare and then vanish quietly. And yet, surprisingly, this one has endured.
Every month, those small grants have trickled into rural villages, helping grandparents feed themselves and those whose children died leaving them with young ones, in raising the orphans. These grants have helped widows and widowers keep children in school.
The program’s quiet success stands in contrast to newer, headline-grabbing initiatives. For example, the latest being President William Ruto’s proposed Single Mothers Fund. Like many Kenyans, I want to believe in it. The idea of empowering single mothers through training and access to capital is a good one. But for it to work, the government must look back before it looks forward. The lessons are already written in the story of the old people’s and orphans’ grant. Personally, because it is a program that succeeded simply because it was consistent.
The Forgotten Success Story of the Old People’s Grant
More than ten years ago, Kenya introduced a modest but transformative social safety net. Every month, cash transfers were made to elderly citizens and widows raising children. It wasn’t (still isn’t) much, but for people in rural areas, it helped somewhere. Especially since it has been consistent. At the time, critics questioned whether the program could survive the country’s often chaotic politics. Yet, it has endured, largely without scandal or disruption.
For elderly Kenyans, these payments help cover basic needs such as food and medicine. For widow(er)s with children, the grant is often a lifeline, bridging the gap between meager earnings and household necessities. It’s worth noting, however, that the grant is strictly for widows with children and that those without children do not qualify.
Despite its modest size, the program’s real success lies in its reliability. Villagers in rural counties recount receiving their stipends without delay, and even in cases of delays, they would be secure in the fact that no matter the time, the money would come x number of months. If the delay was 4 months for example, the amount would come x4. The beauty is it even stopped going through banks and now comes directly to their mpesa numbers.
The enduring success of the old people’s and orphans’ grant is no accident. Several key factors set it apart from the many well intentioned programs that have floundered in Kenya over the years.
Clear Eligibility Criteria
One thing about this program is that it had well defined eligibility rules from the start. Elderly citizens above a certain age and widow(er)s raising children would qualify. By keeping the criteria simple and straightforward, the government avoided confusion and minimized disputes over who should receive aid. It is this clarity that helped build trust in the system.
Local Coordination
Beautifully, this program did not rely solely on centralized bureaucracy. Instead it leveraged county offices, chiefs and community elders to verify applicants and distribute funds. This approach fostered accountability at the community level. People knew who to approach if issues arose.
Consistency Over Flash
Unlike programs that launch with fanfare only to fade quickly (think hustler fund et al), this initiative prioritized continuity. Payments arrived regularly, without dramatic announcements or political posturing. It was the dependable nature of the program that cemented its credibility.
Minimal Bureaucratic Barriers
Applications were simple and documentation requirements were reasonable. Also, disbursements were predictable. By keeping the process user friendly, the program minimized the risk of leaving eligible recipients behind, especially in rural areas where access to government offices can be challenging.
Together, these factors created a model of stability and a blueprint that newer programs would do well to study before rolling out.
3. The Single Mothers Fund: Big Promise, Fuzzy Blueprint
In September, President William Ruto announced a KSh 20 billion initiative aimed at training and empowering single mothers across Kenya. The government says the fund will reach 600,000 women, providing business skills and support through county and national partnerships. On paper, it does sound promising. A bold step toward economic inclusion and gendered empowerment.
But several questions remain unanswered. And, expectedly, these uncertainties cast a shadow over the initiative’s potential impact. First, the definition of single mother is unclear. Will it include separated women, divorced mothers, widows without children, or only mothers who have never married? Or are we just throwing the term single mothers around because it is always attention grabbing? Without clear parameters there will always be the risk of exclusion or misuse.
Second, a lot of vagueness surrounding implementation. The president spoke of training and support, but will there also be direct funding? How will the 600,000 women be selected? Which county offices will oversee disbursement and what accountability structures will ensure the money or training reaches those who need it most?
Finally, Kenyans’ memories of previous government programs like the Uwezo Fund and Hustler Fund make many cautious. While these initiatives were well-intentioned, challenges in access, transparency and sustainability often limited their effectiveness.
The Single Mothers Fund could follow a similar trajectory if careful planning and local oversight are not prioritized from the start.
In short, the ambition is clear but the blueprint remains vague. For this fund to succeed where others have stumbled, the government must learn from past programs. And if we are all looking for a blueprint, then the quiet, methodical success of the old people’s and orphans’ grant would be a good place to start.
A Chance to Get It Right
The Single Mothers Fund presents an opportunity to reshape Kenya’s approach to women’s economic empowerment. Whereas past programs faltered under the weight of unclear processes and overambitious promises, this initiative can succeed if it learns from what has worked before.
Consistency and local engagement are the pillars of programs that endure and make a real difference in people’s lives. By adopting these principles, the government can ensure that the fund reaches those it was designed to serve, I.e single mothers striving to provide for their children.
Kenyans have reason to hope, but what is the use of hope minus accountability? As the fund rolls out, eyes will be watching.
