News
Cabinet to decide food subsidy plan
A new programme under which needy Kenyans will receive food subsidies will be determined by the Cabinet. Photo/FILE
Posted Thursday, November 19 2009 at 09:43
In Summary
- Under the programme, vulnerable households would receive some Sh 1,500 every month.
- Scheme has been proposed by the government to improve food security and household nutrition among the urban poor.
Mr Joshua Kutuny (Cherengany,ODM) was more worried that it would encourage rural to urban migration and sought to know what measures were in place to control this.
Mr Gitobu Imanyara (Imenti Central, CCU) was worried that that Cabinet could reject the proposal and wondered what step would follow.
Mr David Ngugi (Kinangop, Sisi kwa Sisi) expressed reservations saying such a programme would make the poor so dependent and would have them stuck in a cycle of poverty. He questioned other programmes planned by the government to run simultaneously with the food subsidy scheme to get them out of the dependency situation.
Mr Odinga said the pilot project will determine the level of funding as well as the programme’s sustainability.
“We want to introduce a proper social protection programme for our people,” the PM said.
“We must cushion some of our most vulnerable Kenyans.”
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Submitted by patomtaaPosted November 19, 2009 06:56 PM
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Submitted by sam7
We are in no position to hand out free fish to anyone who is not making enough money to sustain themselves (90% of Kenyans). What we need to be doing is to create an enabling environment for people to fish, Provide them low cost loans so they can buy fishing boats and fishing nets and then build processing factories for the fish so they can process and sell the surplus fish to others. That way, we will create employment, and reduce poverty level.
Posted November 19, 2009 05:02 PM -
Submitted by maugo1234
This is bad policy and I doubt its viability and sustainability in a country where nearly 50% have no jobs. You can't discriminate against any poor person. This money must come from somewhere. The best policy is to create jobs. That money could be used to attract investors by giving them tax breaks upto the equivalent amount to be dished out and having them employ people who will come in the tax bracket. That would be a win-win situation that is sustainable in the long run. Don't create culture of dependency!
Posted November 19, 2009 04:44 PM -
Submitted by otienoz
@patomtaa. What ignorance is this: "Didn't he just recently inaugurate a housing project for Kiberians? What has Kibaki done about the Mungiki in his backyard?" First, anyone who opposes Raila's self-seekining populist ideologies not Kibaki man. Secondly, check your facts. The housing project Raila was launching was started by Kibaki during his first term and Raila was busy campaiging for 2007 General Elections and lying to Kenyans Kibaki was doing nothing. Raila shud initiate his own projects to kill Kibera poverty but not seek glory where he doesnt deserve
Posted November 19, 2009 04:38 PM -
Submitted by Gita70Gama
What happened to former V-P Moody Aworis policy to payu the poor. Is this a government with consistent policy or is it idle populist talk? Please make it to do business in kenya, by removing bureacracy, corruption and build infrastructure - communication, transport etc and save us from this small talk.
Posted November 19, 2009 03:49 PM
RSS
@ Otienoz again you are showing your naivety politics is a populist (numbers) game. You name me one politician who is not "self seeking" as you would like to put it. So Kibaki laid a foundation stone and now it's his project? Don't try to position yourself as nonpartisan yet you are castigating Raila and painting Kibaki as a saint. At least Raila has the hardihood of tackling issues of national importance and not just domestic/kitchen issues.