Social Protection Principal Secretary Joseph Motari has pledged timely disbursement of funds meant for the elderly under the Inua Jamii Programme.
He was speaking in Kiambu during the launch of the release of the last backlog of funds totaling Sh8.3 billion, which covers the months of March to June this year.
“On Friday last week, the government released Sh8.3 billion under the Inua Jamii programme, which is the last batch of the 16.7 billion that was in arrears, as the government had already paid the first phase last month,” said Motari.
The PS noted that each beneficiary is set to receive a total of Sh8, 000, which was already credited to their respective bank accounts by Friday last week and was ready for collection.
“I want to assure all the beneficiaries of the Inua Jamii programme that starting this month of July 2023, you will be receiving your monthly stipend of Sh 2,000 without delay,” stated Motari.
The PS also expressed the government’s commitment to ensuring that the most vulnerable members of society are “cushioned and their livelihoods improved.”
“About 1,042,854 elderly persons are listed as regular Inua Jamii beneficiaries, with 42,126 coming from Kiambu County alone,” he said.
He further cited that the government is looking for alternative ways to ensure that the beneficiaries receive their funds in the comfort of their homes to avoid the trouble of having to travel long distances to access banks.
“Plans are under way to have the beneficiaries receive their money through their M-pesa lines at the comfort of their homes,” Motari added.
Kiambu County Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha lauded the government for taking care of the needs of the elderly by ensuring timely payment of their funds.
“I am urging all the beneficiaries of this fund to make good use of the money and I am also asking their carers to help them acquire what they mostly need and not exploit them,” said Nkanatha.
George Waweru, aged 86, a resident of Ndumberi in Kiambu sub-county and beneficially talking to KNA, said, “I am thankful to the president of the Republic of Kenya, Dr. William Ruto, for remembering the elderly. I use the money mostly to buy medicine and food, which has become so expensive.”
Kiambu County alone received 3.3 billion of the 8.3 billion released for the last phase.
Source: Kenya News