By MKT Reporter
The government has disbursed KSh1.72 billion to more than 430,000 households under the Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC) programme as part of the broader Inua Jamii social protection initiative.
In a statement, the State Department for Children Services under the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services said the funds will benefit 430,998 households caring for orphans and vulnerable children across the country.
Principal Secretary CPA Carren Ageng’o said the payment covers both April and May 2026, with each beneficiary household receiving Sh4,000 as a double payment.
“Payment will commence on Wednesday, 20th May 2026 through the contracted Payment Service Provider,” the statement said.
The CT-OVC programme seeks to support households caring for orphaned and vulnerable children by improving access to education, healthcare, nutrition, food security, and child protection services.
According to the State Department for Children Services, the programme was launched in 2004 as a pilot project targeting only 500 households in Kwale, Garissa, and Nairobi following the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on families and children.
Over the years, the programme has expanded significantly and now supports more than 440,000 vulnerable households across all counties and constituencies in Kenya.
Government records indicate that billions of shillings have been disbursed through the programme since its inception, making it one of Kenya’s largest and longest-running social safety net initiatives targeting children.
Officials say the programme has contributed to improved school enrolment, better nutrition outcomes, enhanced household stability, and reduced vulnerability among children living in poverty.
The latest disbursement comes amid continued government efforts to strengthen social protection systems through digitisation and data verification measures aimed at enhancing transparency and reducing fraud.
Authorities have in recent months intensified data cleanup exercises and beneficiary verification processes following concerns that some deceased beneficiaries were still listed in the payment system.
The government has increasingly adopted digital payment systems linked to the eCitizen platform and mobile money services to improve accountability and ease of access for beneficiaries.
Officials say future reforms will include enhanced biometric validation, regular beneficiary audits, and closer integration of government databases to eliminate ghost beneficiaries and ensure funds reach deserving households.
The State Department for Children Services has also indicated plans to continue expanding and strengthening the programme in response to growing economic challenges affecting vulnerable families.
The government says the CT-OVC programme remains central to Kenya’s social protection framework and broader efforts to safeguard the welfare and rights of children living in vulnerable conditions.
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