Zembe-Zondi, YangaOware, Phoene Mesa2023-08-232024-11-112023-08-232024-11-112022https://hdl.handle.net/10566/19585Philosophiae Doctor - PhDExpanding social protection coverage is imperative in low-resource contexts such as Kenya where poverty is widespread. Alongside efforts to increase state capacity, alternative strategies for the expansion of social protection need to be explored. To this end, the potential of linking formal and informal social protection systems has been highlighted. Yet, research exploring this possibility is limited. Through the use of a single country case study, namely, Kenya’s old age grant, Inua Jamii Pension, this thesis explored interfaces between formal and informal social protection systems, to uncover the potential for establishing complementary linkages between them. A qualitative research design was adopted. Semi-structured in-depth individual interviews were conducted with grant beneficiaries from an urban study site - Kibera, and a rural study site - Malava. Four focus group discussions were conducted with beneficiaries. Ten key informants involved in formal and informal social protection systems were interviewed.enSocial grantsSocial securityKenyaPovertySocial developmentUniversity of the Western Cape