Migori County through the State Department for Social Protection, Senior Citizens Affairs and Special Programmes launched an account opening initiative for Inua Jamii programme beneficiaries and the caregivers.
The county joined the nationwide registration process which kicked off on November 10, and which is expected to run through to December 3. The aim of the exercise is to capture a total of 1.2 million beneficiaries in the entire country. Migori County is set to register a total of 47,767 beneficiaries at the end of the exercise.
During the launch at the State Department for Social Protection offices in Migori town, the County Coordinator of Social Protection, Senior Citizens Affairs and Special Programmes Mr. Bernard Makotsi said that as a county, they aim to ensure all beneficiaries get their remunerations channelled directly to their bank accounts.
He added that the new registration process allows the beneficiaries to choose from among the listed participating banks which included the Kenya Women Finance Trust, The National Bank, Cooperative Bank, Kenya Commercial Bank, Post Bank and Equity Bank.
Mr. Makotsi said that the programme started by the transparent exercise of listing beneficiaries which ensured only beneficiaries who are alive and eligible.
“We did a proof of life to confirm the existence of the beneficiaries as well as community listing and validation of data collected to avoid any biases and unintended omission of any eligible beneficiary.”
As opposed to the initial payment methods where the beneficiaries were required to make long queues in the banks, the beneficiaries through their new registered bank accounts will be able to access their funds at any nearest bank agents.
The government will also ensure that other bank charges and deductions will be catered for so as the beneficiaries receive full amounts as disbursed from the ministry.
The registration drive is pushed through the headquarters of all eight sub-counties of Migori County on stipulated dates, to ensure all beneficiaries are enrolled and benefit from the program.
Mr. Okoth Ogao, a beneficiary, applauded the move by the government saying it will reduce distance travelled and other expenses incurred in accessing their funds as majority are disabled and aged. He also added that they welcome the idea of selecting any bank of their preference.
“We thank the government for the rollout enabling us to select our preferred bank, this will help us to get our funds while at our homes through bank agents nearest to us,” Mr. Okoth said.
Through the new payment plan, the beneficiaries say that they can now control their expenditures and spend only when necessary as opposed to the prior plan where they received funds at once.
By Polycarp Ochieng
