‘I feel more loved.’ Autonomy, self-worth and Kenya’s universal pension: Summary Report

This is a summary report for ‘I feel more loved.’ Autonomy, self-worth and Kenya’s universal pension. The report focuses on the Inua Jamii Senior Citizens’ Programme which is a tax-financed benefit-tested social pension that is provided to Kenyans when they reach 70 years of age. By ensuring a universal income guarantee to all of Kenya citizens in old age, the programme represents Kenya’s largest tax-financed social security programme and its first entitlement scheme.

With the aim of contributing to the existing body of evidence on the impacts of social pension schemes, a research team from Development Pathways lead by Sarina Kidd and Anh Tran is conducting a multi-year qualitative research study in the community of Lolkeringet, in Nandi County, Kenya. Through a cultural immersion approach, the researchers analysed how the pension impacted on the lives of older persons, their families, and their community, and focused especially on older persons’ subjective notions of wellbeing, self-worth and autonomy. This report presents the first part of the study’s findings.

Find a link to the summary report here.

Find a link to the full report here.