A total of 10,534 vulnerable residents of Kajiado County have received money from the Inua Jamii cash transfer programme.
Kajiado County Social Development Officer Jimmy Njau revealed that the county received Sh84,272, 000, of which Sh55,920,000 was disbursed to older persons, Sh25,352,000 to orphans and vulnerable children, and Sh3,000,000 to persons with severe disabilities.
Njau said each beneficiary received Sh8,000, and they are expecting the number of beneficiaries to increase next year.
“We are so grateful that most elderly people have no trouble going to the bank to withdraw their money, and most of them are grateful as the funds have assisted them in buying medicine and food. We are waiting for the next disbursement by the government,” said Njau.
The officer added that the funds were disbursed through the six contracted banks, namely Cooperative, Equity, KCB, Kenya Post Office, National, and Kenya Women Microfinance Banks.
Juliet Juma, a beneficiary of the Inua Jamii cash transfer, said she was able to keep her child, who is abled differently, in school.
“I am grateful to the government because my child is in school. I was able to use the money to pay her school fee. Even though she is abled differently, at least she is in school,” revealed Juma.
Alfred Nyamweya, a widower who lost his wife in 2014 and was left with two vulnerable children, also said that the money has helped him a lot.
“I have two vulnerable children, and I have paid their school fees. One just joined high school, and I have cleared this term’s school fee, and I am waiting for next term,” said Nyamweya.
Margret Aoko, an elderly woman with two grandchildren, said the funds have come in handy for her small-scale business as she can feed her grandchildren and pay their school fees.
“I thank God and the government because they know how to identify the needy. I have been able to feed my grandchildren, buy their stationery, pay their school fees, and even stock my stall during these hard economic times,” she said.
The Inua Jamii cash transfer programme is a Government initiative aimed at supporting the most vulnerable persons in society, such as orphans and vulnerable children, people living with severe disabilities, and persons aged 70 years and above with no source of income.
On Thursday, June 22, this year, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua revealed that the government, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, had released Sh16.7 billion for disbursement to beneficiaries enrolled in the Inua Jamii programme.
By Seline Nyangere
