Government finally releases Inua Jamii Programme cash to 1m beneficiaries

The elderly queue to receive funds from the Inua Jamii Cash Transfer Programme. [Duncan Ocholla, Standard]

The government will from Monday, January 9, disburse Sh8.58 billion to 1.07 million beneficiaries of Inua Jamii Cash Transfer Programme.

The funds will cover for the months of July to October 2022, which are in arrears.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection said on Wednesday, January 4 that each of the 1.07 million beneficiaries will receive Sh8,000.

The money benefits orphans and vulnerable children, elderly persons and persons living with severe disabilities.

Persons affected by the delayed disbursement, especially the elderly, had pleaded with President William Ruto to intervene, saying the high cost of living had made life unbearable for most of them.

The January 4, 2023 letter by Judy Tuda, the Director of Social Assistance in the State Department for Social Security and Protection, was addressed to all county and sub-county disability services officers, children officers and social development coordinators.

“This is to inform you that the government has released Ksh8,577,808,000 as payment to 1,072,226 Inua Jamii Cash Transfer Programme beneficiaries currently on payroll. The payment covers the July-August and September-October 2022 cycles; and the disbursements will be through the contracted payment service providers (PSPs). This payment is scheduled to commence on Monday 9th January, 2023 with each beneficiary receiving Ksh8,000,” said Tuda.

“Further, note the current payment is inclusive of the Nutrition Improvement through Cash and Health Education (NICHE) Complimentary top ups for 4,549 beneficiaries amounting to Ksh8,400,500. In view of this, you are asked to mobilise beneficiaries within your area of jurisdiction for the payment.”

President William Ruto said on Wednesday, January 4 that the delay in disbursing Inua Jamii cash to beneficiaries was because the government did not have enough funds to continuously sustain the programme.

“The challenges we have faced with Pesa ya Wazee is because we do not have adequate resources. We must appreciate that our economy was not doing well, and somebody needed to come and bring back our economy, and that is what I’m doing. I want to promise the people of Kenya that I will sort out this economy,” the president said during a joint media interview at State House, Nairobi.