The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has released Sh3, 523,794,000 for payment to 1,761,897 beneficiaries enrolled in the Inua Jamii Programme.
The payment commenced on Monday, with each beneficiary set to receive Sh2,000 covering the February 2025 cycle.
The Ministry, which acted through the State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs, said the funds can be accessed by dialing *222# or can be withdrawn by visiting the nearing Mpesa agent.
The beneficiaries of the Inua Jamii Programme include older persons aged 70 and above, caregivers of orphans and vulnerable children, and caregivers of persons with severe disabilities.
The Ministry advised beneficiaries who still do not have registered phone numbers to visit any Safaricom or Mpesa agent countrywide to register a line that will enable them to access their stipend.
Speaking on Tuesday at KBC, Principal Secretary for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs Joseph Motari directed the beneficiaries to withdraw any uncollected funds in five days.
He warned that any unclaimed monies would be reclaimed by the Ministry.
“Those who have not claimed their Inua Jamii funds have five more days to do so. If they do not claim by the 15th of this month (Saturday), we will assume that the person does not exist,” Motari said.
The directive follows the government’s transition of Inua Jamii payments from banks to the e-Citizen mobile payment platform in January 2025.
The shift allows beneficiaries to receive their stipends directly on their phones via the e-Citizen M-Pesa system.
The Inua Jamii program plans to expand coverage to 2.5 million beneficiaries by 2027.
Motari assured senior citizens who have yet to transition to M pesa payments that their funds will remain secure for the next three months.
“It has been two months since we moved the cash transfer payments to M-Pesa. Senior citizens should not panic—their money is secure. They just need to register, and they will receive all their funds,” he said.
Addressing the possibility of increasing the current Sh2,000 stipend, Motari noted that while an increment is anticipated, it depends on government revenue.
“The funds come from the exchequer. With many Kenyans evading taxes, it would be difficult to increase the stipend,” Motari said.
