The government revealed plans to enrol all 1.1 million Kenyans registered as beneficiaries of the Injua Jamii programme to the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Speaking in Kajiado County on Tuesday, January 10, Social Protection Principal Secretary (PS) Joseph Motari disclosed that the plans were already in progress.
Motari noted that the new development will ensure that the elderly, who are the majority of the grantees, get access to medical attention.
"My department is working very closely with the world bank and we want to register all these beneficiaries with NHIF such that they are taken care of when it comes to healthcare," he stated.
Meanwhile, the PS confirmed that a total of Ksh8.5 billion was disbursed with each beneficiary receiving Ksh8,000, which was in arrears for the period between July and November 2022.
He affirmed that the government would resume normal monthly remittances once it has cleared all unpaid dues.
Motari allayed fears that the programme would collapse and called on more Kenyans who qualify for the funds to sign up for the social protection initiative.
These include citizens aged above 70 years, orphaned and vulnerable children and those living with severe disabilities.
"Registration is continuous: we replace those who exit through national attrition. The money is clawed back to us and we disburse them to the new entrants," the PS noted.
In December 2022, Labour Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore explained that the delay in the disbursement of funds was because of limited funding.
Bore assured that the stalemate was resolved and the funds were factored into the supplementary budget. The delay had caused an uproar with claims of President William Ruto doing away with Inua Jamii.
All beneficiaries receive a Ksh2,000 monthly stipend through six contracted commercial banks.
