News
Kenya poor to get monthly pay
Prime minister Raila Odinga at a news conference on November 4, 2009 after receiving the interim Report of the Task Force on Development of Comprehensive Well Targeted food subsidy scheme in the country. He said the needy will soon get a monthly allowance to meet their basic needs. Photo/FREDRICK ONYANGO
Posted Wednesday, November 4 2009 at 14:26
In Summary
- Government to disburse Sh600 million to a group of vulnerable people living in the slums as a test project
- PM assures programme will succeed.
Needy Kenyans will soon get a monthly income to meet their basic needs in a programme similar to those carried out in welfare states.
However, before the programme dubbed Saidia Jamii (help the family) is rolled out, the government will first disburse Sh600 million to a group of vulnerable people living in the slums as a test project.
“The outcome of the pilot programme will inform the roll-out of Saidia Jamii programme in July 2010, Prime Minister Raila Odinga told journalists Wednesday at his Treasury office after receiving an interim report of a task force formed to come up with a food subsidy scheme to cushion the poor from increasing food prices and effects of famine.
The pilot programme, he said, will be implemented in three phases by the government and its development partners.
In the first phase, a group of 100,000 people drawn from 20,000 households in Mathare, Korogocho, Mukuru and Kibera slums in Nairobi will benefit.
“Each household will be receiving Sh1,500 per month delivered through mobile phone transfer and electronic card system,” the PM said.
The phase is expected to end in June next year.
The second phase of the programme, which will also end in June, Mr Odinga said, will be extended to Kisumu and Mombasa. This will be in the month of March next year.
In the two towns another 100 people, he added, will benefit before it extended to other parts of the country.
Beneficiaries of the project will be identified through community participation, said the PM.
The taskforce was formed in response to escalating food prices, which some of the poor cannot afford.
The entire Saidia Jamii programme, which the taskforce has developed, is aimed at protecting the vulnerable and poor households in urban and rural areas from the negative impacts of food insecurity.
Mr Odinga said the report will first be adopted by the Cabinet before it is taken to Parliament for debate.
If approved by Parliament, it will become law.
The Premier said that through the report, the government has emphasised its commitment to solving poverty across the country.
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Submitted by wakoraPosted November 09, 2009 01:57 AM
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Submitted by olegaita66
There are so many projects that can be started up to lift the poor from the shackles of poverty Mr.PM. Free money is not a solution at all.Hey what happened to projects such as Mwea irrigation scheme? Encourage such money making projects like fish farming cooperatives.If am not wrong the guys who were throwing stones during the clashes had this in mind,that Agwambo should get in so as for 'em to reap off freebies.
Posted November 08, 2009 01:50 AM -
Submitted by JonBforever
"A temporary band aid."
Posted November 08, 2009 01:10 AM -
Submitted by waliz
Most of the comments posted here by critics, are from the so called diaspora. Does the little you send to your families make them lazy? please. This will help a widow and that poor family that does not have any means of income.
Posted November 07, 2009 10:36 PM -
Submitted by mwambani
The current econo - political and corrupt environment, makes the effectiveness and sustainability of a welfare system questionable. Successful welfare programs in the west are short term safety nets and include in their scope social, economic and educational components to address poverty. Kenya’s model targets the money component while neglecting educational and social safeguards. Comparable to a tri- legged stool, loss of legs will cause a stool to have limited functionality due to imbalance. The program will fall short if steps are not taken to remedy the social and educational components of the poor.
Posted November 07, 2009 07:13 PM
RSS
Mr Rt Prime minister i fully support you on this!and those who are gainst introduction of sh1500 a month for the needy by the Prime minister what is the difference between this and handing over of maize and relief food to the poor and starving!are we just criticizing becoz Raila Odinga is the introducer and behind the idea.Raila is the prezo in waiting and i see a peoples leader here empowering his electors!and if u have a problem with that then you are the problem.