Richard Obiga is an Assistant Director in the State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs within the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. He has 16 years of public service experience, including more than 10 years of direct professional engagement in social protection.

Mr. Obiga has extensive experience in the formulation, development, and review of social protection legislation, policies, and strategies at both national and international levels. His contributions include the development of the Kenya Social Protection Policy, 2023; the Social Protection Act No. 12 of 2025; the Social Protection (General) Regulations, 2026; and various county-specific social protection policies and frameworks.

He has also played a significant role in the design, review, and development of major social protection programmes in Kenya. Notably, he served as a member of the core team that designed the first and second phases of the Kenya Social and Economic Inclusion Project (KSEIP). He has also contributed to the design and piloting of Kenya’s Universal Child Benefit programme.

As a national-level Training of Trainers specialist, Mr. Obiga supports professional learning and capacity development in the social protection sector. Through the Kenya Social Protection Learning and Development Programme, he contributes to the delivery of the Social Protection Management Course hosted by the Kenya School of Government. He was part of the core team that developed the initial Social Protection Curriculum and is currently involved in leading its review.

Mr. Obiga is also a national Training of Trainers facilitator on Environmental and Social Standards for KSEIP I and II. In addition, he serves as a lead trainer in social protection at the Devimpact Training Institute, where he facilitates programmes for participants from different countries.

His professional development includes participation in the Academy on Social Security at the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization. He has also completed the Senior Management Course at the Kenya School of Government, which equips public servants with advanced leadership and management competencies.

Mr. Obiga has participated in numerous national and international social protection forums as a keynote speaker, panelist, and moderator. His professional interests include sustainable social protection financing, adaptive social protection, and the role of social protection in advancing inclusive and sustainable development.