The Ministry of Gender, Culture, and Children Services, through the State Department for Children Services, has released Ksh1,783,568,000 for payment to 445,940 orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) under the Inua Jamii Program.
The select orphans and OVCs are all enrolled in the Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC) Programme under the Inua Jamii initiative.
This disbursement covers stipends for both the June and July 2025 payment cycles, with each beneficiary household set to receive Ksh4,000, representing Ksh2,000 per month for the two months.
The Principal Secretary for the State Department for Children Services, Carren Agengo, confirmed that payments commenced on 8 September 2025, through the contracted Payment Service Provider.
PS Carren Agengo further clarified that the CT-OVC Programme was transferred to the newly created State Department for Children Services through Executive Order No. 1 of 2025 to centrally streamline and mainstream all child protection programmes and interventions of the government.
“The Ksh4,000 payment to each individual had therefore, been delayed due to this requisite realignment processes. The State Department apologizes to beneficiaries for inconvenience caused by the delay.”
PS Carren confirmed that the programme aims to encourage the fostering and retention of orphans and vulnerable children within their families and communities while promoting their human capital development.
Inua Jamii Program
In response to the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, in 2004, the Government of Kenya, with support from Development Partners, launched the Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC) Programme.
This initiative was designed to provide critical support to households caring for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), helping to improve their well-being and future prospects.
The CT-OVC Programme began as a pilot project targeting 500 households across three districts: Kwale, Garissa, and Nairobi.
Since then, it has expanded nationwide, now supporting over 440,000 vulnerable households across all counties and constituencies.
The monthly cash transfer has also increased from an initial Ksh500 every two months to Ksh2,000 per month.
The CT-OVC programme directly addresses poverty and vulnerability among children by ensuring they remain in safe family environments while accessing education, healthcare, and nutrition.
How to join the CT-OVC Programme
Getting into the Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC) Programme in Kenya involves a community-driven identification and registration process managed by the State Department for Children Services under the Ministry of Gender, Culture, and Children Services.
To be considered for the Ksh4,000 allocation under the CT-OVC programme, the household must meet specific criteria set by the Inua Jamii programme.
To begin with, there must be the presence of an Orphan or Vulnerable Child (OVC). The household must be caring for:
- A child below 18 years who has lost one or both parents, or
- A child who is vulnerable due to extreme poverty, disability, neglect, or abuse.
Priority is given to extremely poor households that cannot meet basic needs such as food, shelter, and education.
The household must permanently reside in the area where the registration is taking place.
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The government uses a Community-Based Targeting (CBT) approach to ensure fairness and transparency.
The State Department for Children Services, through local administrators, announces a registration exercise in specific locations.
This is usually done through chiefs, assistant chiefs, ward administrators, and community barazas.
Meetings are held in villages to sensitize the public about the programme, eligibility criteria, and benefits as community members help identify the most vulnerable households.
Social workers or children’s officers visit the selected households to verify:
- The presence of orphans or vulnerable children.
- The living conditions of the family.
- Documentation such as birth certificates (if available).
To complete the registration, households must provide:
- National ID cards of caregivers or guardians.
- Birth certificates or notifications for the children, if available.
- Death certificates of deceased parents (if applicable).
- Proof of residence, such as a letter from the chief or assistant chief.
The Children’s Department officers then compile verified data and submit it to the State Department for Children’s Services.
Once approved, the household is issued a beneficiary number.
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Payments are then made through a contracted Payment Service Provider, usually via mobile money or bank account.
To continue benefiting, the household must ensure children stay in school and attend regular health check-ups.
Update records with the local children’s officer if there are changes in the household, such as:
- Death of a caregiver.
- Movement to a new location.
- Children reaching adulthood (18 years).
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