By Lenah Bosibori
Kenya has released Kshs 8.74 billion for payment to beneficiaries including elderly, orphans and people with disability who enrolled in the cash transfer programmes.
Speaking on Friday in Nairobi, Nelson Marwa the Principal Secretary Social Protection said that those to benefit will be beneficiaries who successful opened bank accounts.
“In the new payment model, beneficiaries and caregivers can access their funds within six months after the money is credited to their accounts,” added Marwa.
According to Marwa the government has taken time to audit the system.
“We have taken time to clean up the payroll and we are sure that only genuine members are benefiting under the scheme,” added Marwa.
Marwa added that the new system will ensure only genuine beneficiaries receive the cash and that it will weed out any bogus people.
“The new system is expected to be efficient to enable beneficiaries of the programme receive their stipend through bank accounts only,” added Marwa.
Beneficiary or caregiver will require to produce their Inua Jamii payment cards and Identity card to receive the payments but those going for payment for the first time must transact bio-metrically.
The government has also removed retirees from the programme because they are receiving pension.
“Civil servants earning pension should not receive the two thousand Kenya shillings since they are under pension,” added Marwa.
He added that the reason for the government to go electronic was to remove bogus people who used to benefit unnecessary.
“60,000 beneficiaries don’t have bank accounts so far because the names they were using are shared .”
He concluded that all government Transfers will be paid through beneficiaries, bank accounts to guarantee accountability and transparency.
