‘Inua Jamii’ could be the latest cash cow
President Uhuru Kenyatta greets Mzee Namaska, one of the beneficiaries of the Inua Jamii Cash Programmes during its launch at Ihura stadium in Murang'a County.
Photo\PSCU
What you need to know:
- Jubilee’s launch of its new cash transfer programme — rebranded ‘Inua Jamii’ — is a significant and encouraging move that offers hope to millions in destitution.
- The programme will combine existing efforts that have been targeting urban poor, OVCs, those with severe disabilities and vulnerable seniors over 65 years old.
- A good beginning combined with thorough vetting and validation are essential ingredients to give it credibility and lay strong foundations for future expansion.
The greatest measure of a country’s values, progress and priorities is how it treats the most vulnerable and disadvantaged of its populace. Senior citizens, people with disabilities and orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) fall in this category.
Jubilee’s launch of its new cash transfer programme — rebranded ‘Inua Jamii’ — is a significant and encouraging move that offers hope to millions in destitution.
President Kenyatta launched the programme on February 4 and committed his government to assist 450,000 households with a monthly stipend of Sh2,000.
The programme will combine existing efforts that have been targeting urban poor, OVCs, those with severe disabilities and vulnerable seniors over 65 years old.
It will come under the docket of the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Services and Sh12 billion has been set aside for the project in this year’s budget. This programme has grown significantly since its pilot project in 2004 with 500 beneficiaries.
Two thousand shillings may not appear much but it can make a huge difference in households coping with disability, poverty and sickness. Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi reckons it can lift 13 per cent of the population out of poverty by offering a reliable safety net. The programme is also a response to Article 43 of the Constitution which states that every person has a right to social security and to be free from hunger.
The World Bank has contributed $10 million (Sh850 million) to the programme this year as has DFID and Unicef. It is a noble initiative but a good beginning combined with thorough vetting and validation are essential ingredients to give it credibility and lay strong foundations for future expansion.
CURRENT INDIGNITY
The decision to join hands with Safaricom to enable beneficiaries receive payments by M-Pesa allows for smoother and more accountable payments as well as removing the current indignity of feeble beneficiaries spending hours in long queues at post offices.
However, the decision by the Parliamentary Committee on Labour and Social Welfare to establish Constituency Social Assistance Committees to oversee the programme comprising only of politicians and civil servants means an admirable initiative could turn out to be the latest cash cow for the political and administrative classes.
Each constituency committee will consist of 16 members. The MP is patron and chooses two religious leaders as well as three other people of his choice. The County Women Rep of course gets her slot and two more for her friends.
Put rather more simply, nine of the 16 places are taken up by politicians and the balance goes to the administration.
There is no room for NGOs, CSOs, FBOs or the youth who do most of the work at grassroots level to alleviate poverty, treat the sick and comfort the disabled.
The pilot programme gave space to charities and faith-based groups, but now the political class has hijacked the programme.
It will be another conduit for rewarding cronies, providing pocket money for their offspring and buying essentials for their relatives. Can’t our zealous activists take up this cause in court?
