The Inua Jamii scale-up registration targets over 26,000 beneficiaries in Laikipia County in the ongoing countrywide exercise.
Laikipia East Deputy Commissioner Patrick Muli speaking after the official launch of the exercise said the registration targeted Orphans and Vulnerable Children Older Persons and Persons with Severe Disabilities.
“We have launched the Inua Jamii program, which is a government initiative for persons who have attained 70 years and above, orphans and PWDs. I call upon everyone in the category to come out and get registered,” said Muli, adding that the exercise would run until September 15.
The deputy county commissioner further cautioned residents against being taken advantage of by cartels, revealing that the registration exercise was free and whoever is found extorting people would be charged in a court of law.
“Our officers are trained and know how to conduct the exercise because when such government initiatives start, a lot of people come out to swindle others, pretending that they can enroll them in the program. It’s free and be cautious,” warned Muli.
The county Children Services coordinator Ezekiel Omwanza said that the Inua jamii registration exercise entails three programmes of Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC), Older Persons Cash Transfer (OPCT) and Persons with Severe Disabilities Cash Transfer (PwSD-CT).
Omwanza said that after the registration, they would visit beneficiary’s homes to verify their vulnerability.
The coordinator said that registration exercises will be conducted every day in Nanyuki, however in other areas, there would be scheduled dates.
Helen Mukami, a beneficiary, said it was a relief for older persons since some of them had been forgotten.
She said they had overburdened their children for support, but now it would be a thing of the past since the government had intervened to support them.
Stephen Wachira, on his part, said that the Inua Jamii was a good initiative from the government that sought to uplift the lives of the vulnerable in the community.
Meanwhile, the Inua jamii program which is under the Ministry of labour and social protection, targets to increase the number of beneficiaries from 1,233,129 to 2.5 million in the next three years.
However, for the financial year 203/2024 they target 500,000 new beneficiaries following Cabinet Approval on August 8, 2023.
President Dr. William Ruto in April this year said that his administration was committed to protecting the lives of the vulnerable members of the community through a cash transfer program.
By Muturi Mwangi
