Barely two weeks after the government announced that Inua Jamii beneficiaries would start receiving their monthly stipends through mobile payments, challenges have already been reported.
The Labour Ministry announced the disbursement of Ksh3.5 billion for the Inua Jamii Programme on January 8 and revealed that two counties, Murang'a and Marsabit, would pilot the mobile payment programme for their December payments.
However, the government's plan to streamline the process has reportedly only exacerbated the situation for beneficiaries in Murang'a County.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, the elderly beneficiaries outlined challenges they are facing with the new system including discrepancies in details in their identification (ID) cards, which are mandatory in mobile money withdrawals.
"They are saying I was born in 1922 which is very surprising because I know I was born in 1942 and I used to withdraw my money using that ID since the beginning. Why are they changing my age now?" one beneficiary lamented.
"I want to tell the government that we have a very big problem because we are always on the road and that requires money. The fare from here, Murang'a Town, to Kahuhia Location is Ksh100 for me and another Ksh100 for my caregiver."
Apart from the challenges involving ID cards, the new system is reportedly more susceptible to fraud due to the ease of withdrawing money from local mobile money agents.
Even though the new system was meant to make the process more efficient for the beneficiaries, the new challenges have only made the process more gruelling for the elderly.
"Before we were using ATM cards to get our money and I still have the card. Then they switched and started asking us to start using ID cards and when I go to the agent they tell me my age does not match and I am 78. How are we going to get help?" another beneficiary noted.
If the challenges persist, more Kenyans are bound to experience the same as the programme will expand from the initial two counties to all 47 counties for the January cycle of payments.
“The pilot phase is currently being implemented in Murang'a and Marsabit Counties. Effective January 2025 payment cycle, all beneficiaries under the programme will be paid through the new payment solution,” part of the statement on January 7 read.
Inua Jamii is a Government Cash Transfer Programme designed to support the most vulnerable members of society by providing monthly stipends to cushion them against poverty, hunger and other extreme conditions.
Each beneficiary receives a total of Ksh2000 per month.
