Government Integrated Social Programmes and Their Impacts on Management of Urban Security: A Case of Nairobi City County, Kenya

Abstract

The architecture and implementation process of government integrated social programmes is often overlooked which in turn affects their effectiveness. Among the key roles of such programmes is promotion of urban security which in turn is affected. This study endeavored to assess the effectiveness of social integrated programmes in a bid to enhance urban security with Nairobi City County used as a case of study. Social integrated programmes within the urban environment are influenced by many stakeholders such as the government, community, and developmental partners. The study was guided by the following objectives; to identify key components and mechanisms of government integrated social programmes in Nairobi City County in enhancing urban security; to establish the impact/effectiveness of government integrated social programmes on urban security in Nairobi County; to assess the challenges affecting the realization of government integrated social programmes objectives in promotion of urban security, and to assess the policy, legal, and institutional frameworks of government integrated social programmes in the promotion of urban security in Nairobi City County. The study was guided by concentric zone and crisis theories. The study used descriptive research design. The study sample size was 400 from the target population of 4,397,073. Stratified sampling technique was applied to select respondents. Data collection was conducted using structured questionnaires that were administered by the researcher on hand and pick basis to the primary respondents. Data from key informants was gathered using the interview schedule. Data collected was cleaned, coded, and tabulated in Ms. Excel and analyzed with the aid of SPSS version 25 software. Qualitative data was themed according to the objectives and subjected to content analysis. The findings have revealed that three main programmes have formed the fundamental components of ISP as follows; Kazi Mtaani at 53.80%, Youth Fund Program at (18.24%) and Cash Transfer Programmes at (27.96%). The findings have also established the significant implications of ISPs on urban security as well as the challenges and legal framework for their implementations. However 76.9% of the respondents were unaware of existing policy frameworks on ISP against 23.1% who were aware. The study concludes that ISPs are essential in promoting urban security particularly within neighborhoods that are economically disproportionate. The study recommends that ISPs should be properly funded; there is need to expedite the legislative processes pertaining the Social Protection Bill of 2024; and awareness campaigns should be carried out especially on the scope of various ISPs that are being implemented across the Nairobi City County. Further, there is need to conduct a similar study in other parts of the country that have implemented ISPs to expand the scope of the recommendations for purposes of developing policy and law.