The aged, orphans and disabled in the country have a reason to smile after the Government through Inua Jamii programme introduced new payment model known as “Choice Model” under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.
The programme which targets 710,000 beneficiaries who have been receiving cash transfer stipends was launched on November 26, 2018 in Kajiado County by the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (CS), Amb. Ukur Yatani.
Speaking on Tuesday during the official launch of the “Choice Model” system, Social Protection Principal Secretary (PS), Nelson Marwa said the model involves opening of new InuaJamii bank accounts for the beneficiaries and caregivers from the programme for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC), Older Persons Cash Transfer (OPCT) and Persons with Severe Disabilities Cash Transfer (PWSD) programmes.
“The Government has released Shs.12.3 billion as direct payment to beneficiaries in the three programmes under the Consolidated Cash Transfer Programme (CCTP) who had successfully opened bank accounts in the four contracted Banks namely Co-operative Bank, Equity Bank, Kenya Commercial Bank and Post Bank,” said Marwa.
He added that beneficiarie’s payment was delayed for six months to allow for the regular beneficiaries to be migrated into the new Payment Model.
“The 70 year old and above beneficiaries who registered in 2017 have bank accounts and therefore were not required to participate in the exercise.
However, in order to avoid confusion by paying a section of the beneficiaries of the cash transfer programmes and consolidating three Cash transfer programmes, it was decided that all beneficiaries will be paid together after the migration exercise therefore creating harmony,” explained Marwa.
During this payment cycle, all the beneficiaries will get paid Shs.12, 000 in March this being payment for the three cycles that was delayed from September 2018 to January-February, 2019.
Marwa advised all the beneficiaries to choose any bank that is near them and was given the contract to avoid straining whenever they want to access their money and warned bank agents that law will be taken against any one of them found trying to con the aged due to their current situation.
“The contracted Banks requested for the opportunity to serve Kenyans in this initiative and were granted one.
I would like to urge them to serve these minorities with honesty. Any bank agent found to be trying to fetch money from them due to their inabilities will be arrested and charged in the court of law,” warned Marwa.
In Inua Jamii also known as Choice Model bank account, all transactions will be authenticated biometrically by the beneficiary or selected caregivers, transactions made at widely distributed pay points country wide attracts no ledger fees or other standing charges and allows savings and deposits.
The beneficiaries will be required to provide their Inua Jamii payment card, Beneficiary National ID or Caregiver National ID where applicable for them to receive the funds.
By Lenard Lubanga
