How Welfare Politics Shape the Societal and Public Management Values of Public Policies and Services: Lessons from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda

The chapter illustrates how global, regional and national political practices and power structures influence social protection and welfare in four countries of the East African Community (EAC), Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania. From the politics of colonialisms whose mission was not social protection, to the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Africa 2063 strategy, it is illustrated that shifts in global, regional and national politics shape social protection in these countries. It is highlighted that the four countries have constitutional frameworks which provide societal values and legal basis for policies and practices for social protection and welfare. Cases of the Universal Health Insurance in Rwanda, the Senior Citizens Grant in Uganda, the Older Persons Cash Transfer in Kenya and the Productive Social SafetyNet Program in Tanzania illustrate the interface between societal and public management values as the committed leadership faces administrative and financial challenges in ensuring social protection and welfare. A critical message emerges that poverty is not an excuse for not providing social protection and welfare, especially to the vulnerable in order to leave no one behind in development.