President William Ruto has announced that Inua Jamii social protection funds will be disbursed ahead of public servants’ salaries starting June 1, 2023.
While speaking during the Kenya Social Protection Conference 2023 in Nairobi on Tuesday, April 4, the head of state said that it is atrocious to disregard vulnerable citizen as it impairs the country’s bottom-up method to achieving economic transformation.
As such, president Ruto said the disbursement of Inua Jamii funds, which has been given a go ahead by the Cabinet and the Treasury, will help protect its beneficiaries.
“Older citizens, orphans and vulnerable children, as well as people living with extreme disability, have a right to receive support now, and it is grossly unjust to wait even one moment for any reason,” he said.
“That is why cabinet has now approved that from June 1 the social protection cash transfer money will be disbursed before salaries of public servants is disbursed.” The President added.
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The head of state also noted that if the latter is not followed, the government will harshly be held to account.
Moreover, president Ruto announced that the government has allocated Ksh.28 billion to support the Inua Jamii programme.
“I know for a very long time we have had the money being disbursed 3,4,5,6 and sometimes 7 months after they are due,” he stated.
Nevertheless, the President said he is optimistic that the move will push the nation in achieving its economic transformation.
“We are confident as a nation and as a government, that we can simultaneously pursue rapid economic transformation and social protection and that ultimately, we shall achieve them both,” he stated.
The head of state said 16.1% percent of Kenyans currently live below the poverty line as the number went up in the wake of the Covid pandemic, reaching 8.9 million people.
As such, President Ruto urged relevant stakeholders and partners to join in the mission to hasten the progress to full social protection cover in Kenya
Nonetheless, Inua Jamii is under the Social Protection support cash transfer programme. It benefits senior citizens, orphans, and vulnerable children, as well as people living with extreme disabilities.