Over 2,000 orphans and vulnerable children in Kisumu and Nyando have received Sh24 million under the Inua Jamii initiative by the national government.
KCB group agents in Kisumu aided the issuance of the stipend to registered beneficiaries given the bank’s pact with the government to have cards in the disbursement of billions of shillings under the social protection programme run by the Ministry of Labour and Services.
The children’s caregivers turned out on Tuesday to receive the money that has been accumulated for six months with each receiving at least Sh12,000.
The parents have asked the government to consider increasing the amount since most of the children have grown and had more needs to be catered for, among them school fees.
They said most of the children are in secondary schools and were affected by nonpayment of fees this year after bursaries delayed in most constituencies in the county.
“The children have grown and their needs are now beyond our financial abilities since we only get the money to support us after a long time, they should increase it to above Sh5,000 or more,” said one of the guardians who pleaded not to be identified in fear of being denied the benefit on being identified.
The ministry’s program registrar for the region, Mr Kevin Ayienda said cash transfer to orphans and vulnerable children started on Monday but many older persons had showed up thinking that it was their day.
“Most of the old people turn up on hearing that the exercise is on without verifying the category set for the day and are made to turn away because the disbursements for the various groups are now in distinct days,” said Mr Ayienda.
He said the exercise will be completed at the end of this week to allow the ministry prepare the dates for payouts to persons with severe disability and the old.