KEPSA Foundation Executive Director, Ms. Gloria Ndekei on 3rd March 2023 took part in the Kenya Social Protection Conference 2023 that took place on the 2nd to 6th April 2023 at the Kenya School of Government under the theme: Accelerating Inclusive and Integrated Social Protection System in Kenya: Strategies for Expansion of Coverage and Improved Shock – Responsiveness. The conference, spearheaded by the State Department for Social Protection is bringing together over 500 actors cutting across the Government Ministries, state agencies, development partners, NGOs, Civil Society, Private sector, and Communities with an aim of coming up with strategies for inclusion and expansion of social protection in Kenya.

Ms. Ndekei provided a keynote speech at the third breakout session under the sub-theme ‘The Role of the private sector in expanding Social Protection’. Other speakers of the session included; Ms. Caroline Tett of Give Directly, Ms. Saralyn Githinji of Equity Bank, Mr. Sammy Muriu of Kenya Post Office bank, Ms. Regina Njogu of KCB, and Victor Malu, Consultant at Financial Sector Deepening Kenya. The President of Kenya, H.E Dr. William Ruto will officiate the opening session of the conference on 4th April 2023.

Speakers at this session sought to amplify the contribution and opportunities for the private sector in expanding social protection. KCB, Equity Bank, and Kenya Post bank are among the banks that have been partnering with the government in the roll out and strengthening outreach of the cash transfer program for the vulnerable including in the hard-to-reach communities.

Ms. Ndekei highlighted that KEPSA Foundation and member organizations have been actively involved in advocating for social protection policies and programs through a number of initiatives to bridge the gaps as well as respond to national strategies on social protection with the driving force being human capital stability, retaining and attracting employees without which labour productivity and competitiveness have been compromised. Private companies offer their employees benefits such as health insurance, retirement and pension plans, work-related and invalidity insurance, survivors’ benefits, maternity/paternity benefits, and other forms of social security.

One of such key initiatives undertaken by the Foundation was the advocacy for the implementation of maternity protection and labour laws, and inclusive workplaces that are sensitive to providing support for breastfeeding through the establishment and integration of lactation stations, and flexi-time within the organizational policies. In line with this, KEPSA was instrumental in the unlocking and legislation of the Breastmilk Substitutes (Regulations and Control), 2012 and the Health Act, 2017. Under this initiative, over 100 companies have established lactation stations that continue to benefit over 3000 women. The impact of breastfeeding within the first two years of life was underscored, while the employers benefit from improved productivity, retention and good corporate image.  

The session concluded that private sector plays a significant role in expanding social protection in Kenya through a number of ways that may include; leveraging technology, creating job opportunities, adherence to labour laws on employee benefits, collaboration with the government, private sector investment in social infrastructure, Corporate Social Investment (CSI), development of a common private sector social protection policy, and formalization and structuring of the informal sector.

In conclusion, the private sector in Kenya is committed to supporting, strengthening, and complementing the priorities of the government including upscaling and expanding social protection.