The World Bank has saluted a project by President Uhuru Kenyatta citing that it has cushioned the poor and most vulnerable people in the society.
In a report titled In Search of Fiscal Space; Government Spending and Taxation: Who Benefits?, the international body recognised Inua Jamii initiative for filling the gap between the rich and the poor.
The institution’s Senior Economist Utz Pape noted, “We are glad to see that Kenya continues to invest in social protection programs. They are extremely important to support poor Kenyans, and protect vulnerable households.”
The bank lauded the cash transfer aspect of the institution to the old people of Kenya.
“They are extremely important to support poor Kenyans, and protect vulnerable households,” read the Bank’s economic update report.
Inua Jamii programme was created by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to help vulnerable citizens of over 70 years access a monthly pay by the Government.
As of April 2018, the program had enrolled over 1.2 million individuals with the majority being women.
The applicants in that age bracket receive a stipend of Ksh 2,000 monthly with a medical cover in partnership with National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
World Bank, however, urged the Government to widen the coverage of the program in order to accommodate more vulnerable Kenyans out of the current age bracket.
The National Government had allocated Ksh 6.5 billion to aid in the facilitation of the program. The first bunch received the payout in May this year.
