By Aoma Keziah,
The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has refuted claims made in the Daily Nation newspaper regarding the Inua Jamii Cash Transfer Programme. The report, titled “Retirees Bear Brunt of Ruto M-Pesa Rule,” alleged that retirees were being locked out of the programme due to a directive mandating the use of mobile wallets for disbursements. The Ministry has denied these claims and provided crucial clarifications on the matter.
Through a statement, Motari has affirmed that The Inua Jamii Programme is a government led cash transfer initiative aimed at supporting vulnerable groups, including: Older persons aged 70 years and above who are not beneficiaries of any government pension scheme and possess a valid Kenyan national ID, households with orphans and vulnerable children and households caring for persons with severe disabilities.
He also has emphasized that retirees who receive any form of government pension are not eligible for the Inua Jamii Programme, contradicting the claims made in the Daily Nation article.
To enhance efficiency, security, and accessibility, the government has transitioned to M-PESA as the primary mode of disbursing funds under the programme, beneficiaries without an active M-PESA line are encouraged to register at any Safaricom or M-PESA agent nationwide. The Ministry has dismissed the assertion that beneficiaries must travel long distances for SIM card registration, affirming that services are readily available across the country.
Previously, beneficiaries had to physically visit bank branches to receive their stipends, often incurring high transportation costs and enduring long wait times. The adoption of mobile wallet disbursements allows beneficiaries to access their funds conveniently from their homes or at nearby M-PESA agents, significantly improving service delivery.
The Ministry reported that on February 13, 2025, the government successfully disbursed Ksh 3.52 billion to 1,760,079 households under the Inua Jamii Programme. Within a week, 1.5 million beneficiaries had accessed their funds through the eCitizen M-PESA system, this milestone highlighting the efficiency and effectiveness of the transition to mobile money payments.
Government has reassured beneficiaries that both seven digit and eight digit national identity card holders are eligible to register telephone lines to receive their stipends, saying that this measure ensures that all qualified individuals can seamlessly receive their entitled support.
The public has been urged to disregard misleading reports and rely on official communication for accurate information regarding the Inua Jamii Programme.
