Labour PS: We have increased cash to vulnerable groups

Nairobi, Kenya: The Ministry of Labour has said among its biggest achievements in the past year is the significant increase in the cash transfer to vulnerable groups of Kenyans to Sh12 billion.

Principal Secretary Ali Noor Ismail, while issuing the ministry’s report card for the past one year, said they have increased the number of beneficiaries of monthly payments from 237,000 to more than 454,000.

These groups include orphans and vulnerable children, older persons, persons with severe disabilities and urban poor, who receive a monthly payment to meet their basic needs.

Job agreements

“So far we have already disbursed Sh3.7 billion to beneficiaries. The balance will be distributed before the end of the financial year,” he said.

Ismail said the ministry has established a single database of all the beneficiaries to reduce instances of money not reaching the intended persons.

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He termed the new system as water-tight against corruption and loss of funds, with committees in all constituencies. In addition, the ministry said it has facilitated the employment of at least 13,500 jobseekers locally and abroad, including placing 9,640 job seekers in employment through the public hiring services.

He said they have negotiated bilateral job agreements with the Emirates and Saudi Arabia to increase the number of Kenyans working in those countries and ensure their labour rights are respected.

Moreover, he said they have put in place mechanisms to ensure the billions of shillings that Kenyan workers contribute to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) is protected from mismanagement and corruption.

?Reporting by Felix Olick, Augustine Oduor, Ally Jamah