Inua Jamii beneficiaries to be paid via mobile phones from December

Beneficiaries of the government's social protection programme will begin receiving their monthly stipends directly on their mobile phones starting December 1, 2024, Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has announced.

This shift comes as the government restructures the Inua Jamii programme to remove deceased beneficiaries whose caregivers continue to collect the stipends without reporting their deaths.

Many beneficiaries, including the elderly who struggle to visit banks, have been waiting for over a year for this mobile payment option.

The Inua Jamii cash transfer programme serves vulnerable groups including orphans, persons with severe disabilities, and older persons.

Speaking to senators on Wednesday, Mutua confirmed that over one million beneficiaries will now receive their stipends through M-Pesa, reducing the need to visit banks or agents.

"We are going to ensure that all the monies will be transferred directly to the phones or designated M-Pesa accounts of the recipients," he said.

Currently, many beneficiaries have to travel long distances to access their funds from designated financial institutions, a significant burden, especially for the elderly and persons with disabilities.

Mutua noted that the government's shift to mobile transfers will ease these challenges, a move that aligns with President William Ruto's directive issued last year.

The directive aimed to save beneficiaries from the hassle and expenses of travelling to collect their stipends.

The Labour CS also explained that the contracts for the six banks previously tasked with distributing the stipends are coming to an end.

These banks had partnered with local agents in various wards and sub-counties to disburse funds.

With the transition to digital platforms, such partnerships will no longer be necessary.

"Currently, they wake up in the morning, get a boda boda or a car, and travel long distances. They line up the whole day waiting for their money, which is not fair," Mutua said.

"You don't want someone spending Sh500 to travel and another Sh200 for food, only to receive Sh2,000. The money is already gone before they get home," he added.

Digital enrolment in progress

In January 2024, the government began enrolling Inua Jamii beneficiaries for digital payments through M-Pesa, starting with older persons.

The programme, which began in 2007 with just 300 recipients, now serves more than 1.2 million people, including 833,129 people aged over 70 years.

The shift to mobile phone transfers comes at a crucial time, as Kenya's ageing population continues to grow.

According to the 2019 Census, older people made up six per cent of the population, or about 2.7 million individuals. By 2050, this figure is expected to rise to 10.3 per cent.

During the Senate session, lawmakers pressed Mutua to explain the measures in place to ensure that only legitimate beneficiaries receive the monthly stipends.

Nominated Senator Catherine Mumma urged the CS to provide a register of beneficiaries for verification.

"What mechanism have you put in place to ensure only the right people are receiving the social protection funds and the funds are equitably distributed among the beneficiaries?" she asked.

Kirinyaga Senator James Murango also questioned why the government is spending additional funds on re-registering beneficiaries when it already holds the necessary data.

In response, CS Mutua cited the Data Protection Act, which limits the government's ability to share personal information.