SIKWADHI: 2022 pledges: Social welfare for unemployed, vulnerable families critical

Recently some presidential aspirants said ODM leader Raila Odinga’s social welfare fund proposal of Sh6, 000 per month for the vulnerable families and unemployed youth is not tenable proclamation.

This is misleading and a red herring fallacy since it is provided for in law.

Article 43(3) of the Constitution guarantees that, “The state shall provide appropriate social security to persons who are unable to support themselves and their defendants.”

I wonder why some presidential candidates should bother with politics if they argue against ameliorative constitutional SWP provisions to be transferred to poor families and unemployed.

Moreover legislation is not prevented from being enacted for SWP in accordance with the Constitution. The cumulative effect of such provision is to have deference for the distinction between determination of a guiding policy on the one hand, and its consequent translation into legally binding administration and implementation of SWP on the other.

What the Constitution reveals hinges on three important premises. First, that the unemployed, disadvantaged and vulnerable members of our country have provisions in the law that obligates the state to provide social/economic protection.

Second, presidential aspirants ought to plan and proclaim how they may assist the unemployed until their status is changed by any new skill-orientation plan or consequent job placement.

Third, since some presidential aspirants are not ready to fulfil such constitutional mandates of assisting the unemployed and vulnerable families, they need not aspire to become president, ipso facto. It has been rightly said that one cannot be wishing to be presidnet, while not having the spirit to fulfill the requisite constitutional obligations such as commitment to the economic and social rights for those who need to be protected welfare-wise.

Fourth, the Kenya undertakes to protect the health and wellbeing of its citizens and is among states with welfare enactments. Others include but not limited to Germany, France, Namibia, Netherlands, Iceland, Norway, Mauritius, Sweden, India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, the UK, the US, China, Rome, Australia, Canada, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Brazil, Japan, Greece, New Zealand, Turkey, South Korea, Lithuania, Latvia,, Israel, Slovenia, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, and Australia.

Today with an estimated eight million youth aged between 18-34 who are unemployed, this should be the most serious problem of our time that requires urgent intervention. It is a ticking time-bomb if we delay in tackling it.

Notably, Raila has unveiled an agenda that can unlock new homegrown industries, two in each county, to employ locals and manufacture ‘Made in Kenya’ products. This is one of the important pragmatic steps that can mitigate unemployment. This appears to use a realistic attempt that can pay off, if the counties disbursement can be increased from 15 per cent to 35 per cent for the development of the deemed industries.

Raila gave a practical prototype by focusing his example on Kwale’s possible coconut industrial enterprise. This can be harnessed to produce brooms, ropes, oil and milk among other products that can be produced from the coconut.

Such manufacturing enterprises can possibly make different products available in different counties in the country. And these can curb the problem of the vulnerable families and unemployed.

To sort out problems of unemployment both DP William Ruto and Raila have focused on policies that they feel are appropriate to alleviate the problem of unemployment. Ruto applies the paradigm of bottom up approach, in which grassroots are parceled out in groups and mama mbogas to be assisted.

But there is need to be proper elaboration of how bottom up approach implementation process will play out and the source of capital outlay involved in each phase.

On the other hand, Raila plans to build an economic and social welfare fund in which Sh6,000 is disbursed to the vulnerable. He proposes creating ability to harness four significant trajectories as follows.

First, is the tax-performance regime to enable lean tax releases for social welfare of the unemployed. Second, is to move towards zero tolerance to corruption so that monies salvaged from capital flights to safe heavens can be allocated for SWP.

Third, Raila has given indication that there is a possibility of harnessing corporate philanthropy performance regime through goodwill overtures. This might need a policy reform that can promote a form of normative Corporate Social Responsibility. This shall initiate reciprocal relationship of business between companies/ industries/banks, government and society to make some contribution to the social welfare kitty to help the needy plus some developmental concerns to occupy the needy.

This normally can assist unemployed plus other needy areas like higher education and disaster prone   locales that usually require substantial financial outlay. All these are not matters to laugh about.

Fourth, Raila’s vision is to build home grown new industries in each county for making Kenya products in rural areas to boost Kenya’s GDP and rescue the unemployed and vulnerable families. These endeavors, plus the fourth industrial revolution uptake, can surely grow our economy optimally and can boost SWP demands.

Prof Awino Sikwadhi is a university lecturer