Poverty has long been a huge problem in most African countries, Kenya included.
According to Statista, 17% of Kenyan citizens lived under 239 KShs ($1.90) per day in 2022.
The numbers translate to more than 8.9 million Kenyans being in extreme poverty.
The poverty rate in the country was higher in 2016 (21%) as well as in 2020 (20%).
Thankfully, the number is coming down and is currently at 16% in 2023.
The government of Kenya has over the years tried to combat poverty.
Different administrations have come up with varied strategies for carrying out the mandate.
One of the ongoing initiatives is the Inua Jamii cash programme.
Vulnerable people across the board have benefited from the initiative.
In this guide, I will tell you all you need to know about the Inua Jamii cash transfer programme.
About Inua Jamii
Inua Jamii is Swahili for “lift the community” and the program does exactly that by empowering vulnerable and marginalized groups across the country.
The goal is to offer regular bi-monthly cash transfers to eligible persons thus improving their lives.
Looking at the poverty stats in the country, it is safe to say that the programme has made an impact of sorts.
When did Inua Jamii start?
Inua Jamii cash transfer programme was introduced by the government of Kenya in 2004.
At the time, its main purpose was to improve the livelihoods of orphans and vulnerable children by offering them cash periodically.
The pilot programme covered 500 households in three Kenyan districts.
In 2007, the government introduced cash transfer to older persons in specific households.
Three years later, it was expanded to assist people living with severe disabilities.
In July 2017 under the government of President Uhuru Kenyatta, the cash transfer programme was increased further to cover all elderly persons 70 years and above in the country.
The latest branch of the initiative is called the Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSPN) and takes care of poor and vulnerable households in the arid counties of Mandera, Turkana, Wajir, and Marsabit.
The pilot programme was launched by the administration of the late President Mwai Kibaki in 2004.
He saw its fulfillment up until he left power in 2013. In 2015, his successor President Uhuru Kenyatta announced its expansion through the inclusion of all elderly persons of 70 years and above in the entire country.
The new programme (launched in 2017) is bigger and better as it reaches more needy persons in Kenya.
Which Ministry Is Inua Jamii Under?
The Government of Kenya implements the Inua Jamii programme via the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.
The docket is currently run by Cabinet Secretary, Florence Bore.
The ministry works alongside the Ministry of Devolution and ASAL (MoDA).
Consequently, both ministries implement their actions through local and sub-county offices as well as Beneficiary Welfare Committees in every location.
Chiefs, assistant chiefs, and community members also provide additional support.
Who are the beneficiaries of the programme?
According to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the Inua Jamii cash transfer program has four groups of beneficiaries:
- Orphans and vulnerable children
- Senior citizens
- Severely disabled persons
- Hunger stricken persons
How Does Inua Jamii Work?
As mentioned before, Inua Jamii offers reliable and regular cash payments to vulnerable persons in four different groups.
Those who are eligible apply for the programme and if they qualify, get cash transfers every month as follows:
- Orphans, vulnerable children, elderly persons of 70+ years, and people with severe disabilities receive KSh 2,000 per month (KSh 4,000 paid bi-monthly).
- HSNP households receive KShs 5,400 bi-monthly.
Inua Jamii Registration Process
Who qualifies for Inua Jamii?
A. Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC)
Those that qualify are:
- Households with chronically ill caregivers or those who cannot perform their duties
- Extremely poor households with one or more orphans or vulnerable households as permanent members.
- Households that don’t benefit from other social assistance programmes.
B. Older persons
Those that qualify are:
- Kenyan citizens 70 and above years
- People who do not receive pensions or are enrolled in other cash transfer programmes
C. Persons with severe disabilities (PWSD)
PWSD households qualify if they:
- Have a Kenyan citizen with a severe disability who is not enrolled in an alternate cash programme. He or she must reside in one place for a year or more.
D. Hunger Safety Net Programme
Meant for poor and vulnerable households in the arid countries of Mandera, Marsabit, Wajir, and Turkana.
How to Register For Inua Jamii Cash Transfer
To register, an interested caregiver or beneficiary must visit a mobilization center in person along with their original national identity card and birth certificate in case of a child.
This can also be the local District Social Development Office.
Children should visit their local Children’s Services Office.
While there, you will be given an application form to fill out.
Once you are done filling out the application form, your bio-data will be vetted.
If you qualify, you will be required to open an account with one of the ministry-approved banks.
The vetting period takes about three months after which you should start receiving your funds if you are eligible.
Important Updates Of Inua Jamii Cash Transfer
Is Inua Jamii money out? (2023)
On 4th of January, 2023, the government of Kenya through a letter issued by the Director of Social Assistance in the State Department for Social Security and Protection, Judy Tuda, announced the payment of Inua Jamii Cash Programme arrears for the previous year.
The disbursement takes care of July to August and September to October payment cycles.
The stipend (a total of KShs 8,000 per beneficiary) was set to be released on Monday 9th January, 2023. So, yes the cash is already out.
When is the next Inua Jamii payment?
The government is yet to give a directive on when the next Inua Jamii payment will be made.
Inua Jamii News Today
If you want to stay on top of Inua Jamii news, keep in touch with the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection website.
You can also subscribe to some of the media sites in Kenya including standardmedia.go.ke, citizen.digital, and ntvkenya.go.ke among others to get daily updates.
Additionally, you might want to stay in touch with your county and sub-county officials, the chief, assistant chief, and the Beneficiary Welfare Committee (BWC) to know what’s going on.
Lastly, contact Inua Jamii directly for recent updates.
How do I contact Inua Jamii?
Speaking of contacting Inua Jamii, you have two options:
- Call the Inua Jamii Helpline at 1533. It’s toll-free. Ask to speak to an agent and you will be connected to one. Keep in mind that the helpline is open from Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.
- Drop an email at [email protected].
