Mutua says the elderly to receive stipend through mobile money

The elderly and persons living with disabilities queue outside a bank agent in Kisii town to receive monthly stipend under the National Government Cash Transfer Programme. [File, Standard]

Labour and Social Welfare Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has told the Senate that the government is working to ensure that beneficiaries of the cash transfer programme across the country get money through their mobile phones.

Dr Mutua who appeared before the Senate plenary acknowledged that for several years now the elderly have been queuing in banks to receive the monthly stipend, which is inconveniencing to most of them.

Senator Catherine Mumma sought to know the measures put in place to ensure that all the deserving cases get social protection and how Members of Parliament can access the register.

“The Ministry of Labour is working towards ensuring that beneficiaries of the cash transfer programme across the county get their money through their phones since for many years the elderly have been lining up in banking halls waiting to get the money,” said Mutua.

Machakos Senator Kavindu Muthama sought to know if the victims of the 1998 American Embassy Bomb blast were beneficiaries of the programme.

The CS said that so far they have not established a criteria of ensuring the victims of the bomb blast are enrolled in the Inua Jamii programme and assured that the ministry is working to have this achieved.

He explained that for the bomb blast victims to enrolled in the programme they should be over 70 years while their children do not qualify for assistance since the incident happened 26 years ago and they are now adults.

Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago asked what the Labour Ministry had done to address the plight of staff dismissed from Cooperative Bank after the 1998 bomb blast and why the government was not using the Postal Corporation of Kenya for the cash transfer programme.

“The government has a system that is working to establish the age, disability and vulnerability of citizens to be included in the cash transfer programme, Parliament passed a law on data protection if senators feel there are people in their counties left out they should inform the ministry,” said Mutua.

Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango wondered why the government was not using registration data to award stipend to deserving Kenyans instead of wasting state resources looking around for the elderly.
Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo asked Mutua if he was aware Kenyans who were injured in the American Embassy Bomb blast had not been compensated while American citizens had been fully compensated.

The CS said that he followed up on compensation of Kenyans while serving as Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary and there was an active case on the matter before a court in the US.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka said that it was the responsibility of the government of Kenya to compensate citizens who were injured during the 1998 American Embassy Bomb blast even as America figures out how to handle this matter.

“I strongly believe that all the victims of the 1998 American Embassy bombing should be compensated irrespective of whether they are Kenyan or American citizens with the matter currently before an American court, we are waiting to see how it will go,” said Mutua.

The CS revealed that they are currently using records from the Ministry of Interior and they have engaged enumerators to establish whether the elderly are in their home counties or they have moved to other areas.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei sought to know the role of the National Employment Authority in recruitment agencies and and requested for the list of Kenyans who have successfully applied for jobs in the diaspora.  Mutua promised to provide the list.

Cherargei sought to know the status of the investigations into Worth Start Africa Limited, an agency operated by one Pastor James Wanjohi, that reportedly defrauded Kenyans more than Sh 600 million with a promise to assist them secure jobs and whether there are plans to compensate the victims.

“The Worth Start Africa Limited matter is active in court, the government does not have plans to compensate the victims who lost Sh 600 million since they were dealing with a private entity which if found culpable will be compelled to compensate the victims,” said Mutua.

The CS said recruitment agencies are vetted to ensure that only credible organisations are in operation.

Cherargei asked what efforts are being made to enable ladies who deliver babies in Saudi Arabia return home since there were restrictions, to which Mutua replied that  DNA test has to be conducted and a permit issued to avoid child trafficking.