Relief as state disburses Sh3.52bn for April Inua Jamii programme

Senior citizens of Kajiado turn up to receive their Inua Jamii stipends on July 8, 2023 /FILE

The government has disbursed Sh3.52 billion to cover the Inua Jamii Programme April cycle.

This was done by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, through the State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs.

The funds will benefit 1,760,510 people enrolled in the Inua Jamii Program.

State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs PS Joseph Motari said the Inua Jamii Cash Transfer Programme remains a cornerstone of the government's social protection strategy.

“It aims to alleviate poverty and promote the well-being of society's most vulnerable members, including older persons aged 70 and above, orphans and vulnerable children, and persons living with severe disability,” he said.

Each beneficiary is set to receive Sh2,000 covering the April 2025 cycle. The funds can be accessed by dialing *222# or can be withdrawn by visiting the nearest M-Pesa agent.

In March, the ministry advised beneficiaries who still do not have registered phone numbers to visit any Safaricom or M-Pesa agent countrywide to register a line that will enable them to access their stipend.

The government transitioned the Inua Jamii payments from banks to the e-Citizen mobile payment platform in January 2025.

The shift allows beneficiaries to receive their stipends directly on their phones via the e-Citizen M-Pesa system.

The Inua Jamii programme plans to expand coverage to 2.5 million beneficiaries by 2027.

In March, Motari assured senior citizens who have yet to transition to M-Pesa payments that their funds will remain secure for the next three months.

“It has been two months since we moved the cash transfer payments to M-Pesa. Senior citizens should not panic—their money is secure. They just need to register, and they will receive all their funds,” he said.

Addressing the possibility of increasing the current Sh2,000 stipend, Motari noted that while an increment is anticipated, it depends on government revenue.

“The funds come from the exchequer. With many Kenyans evading taxes, it would be difficult to increase the stipend,” Motari said.