The Kenyan Government, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, on Wednesday, June 22, released Ksh16 billion towards the Inua Jamii program.
Announcing the disbursement, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua regretted that the government was not able to make the payments in the last 8 months.
He explained that the Ksh16 billion will benefit over 1 million Kenyans registered under the Inua Jamii Program.
Those expected to benefit are orphans, senior citizens and Kenyans living with severe disabilities.
“The Kenya Kwanza administration remains committed to supporting the most vulnerable members in the community who deserve to live a dignified life,” the DP stated during the event hosted at his Karen home.
Despite the 8-month delay, Gachagua assured beneficiaries that going forward, the government would be providing a monthly stipend.
The DP announced that an additional Ksh11 million would be paid as a top-up for beneficiaries under the Nutrition Improvement through Cash and Health Education (NICHE) Complimentary Program.
“Each beneficiary will receive Ksh16,000 to be paid through two tranches in June and July,” he explained.
Gachagua noted that while Inua Jamii benefits Kenyans across the country, NICHE is designed specifically to assist vulnerable Kenyans living in the Arid and Semi-Arid Counties of Kitui, Kilifi, Marsabit, Turkana and West Pokot.
Beneficiaries in these counties will receive an additional Ksh4,000 on top of the Inua Jamii stipend. Expectant mothers and those with infants also count as some of the biggest beneficiaries of the NICHE Program.
President William Ruto’s government came under sharp criticism for not releasing funds for the elderly since taking over from the Jubilee Administration in September 2022.
In the 2023/2024 financial year, the government slashed the funds for Inua Jamii from Ksh39.5 billion to Ksh38.2 billion.
