Over 350 households in Thika West Sub-County, Kiambu County are set to benefit from the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) cash transfer programme this year after the scaling up of the beneficiaries by 79 households last year.
Speaking on Monday in her office in Thika Town, Thika West Children’s Officer, Rebecca Kariuki said following the rise in beneficiaries, the amount they will get this year has also increased from Sh470,000 to Sh900,000.
She said that the selection of the new beneficiaries is ongoing at the location level, and was being conducted by the locational OVC committees (LOC).
“Chiefs and their assistants have already commenced the funds beneficiary selection processes and once the process in over, funds will be dispersed to help the unfortunate children,” she said.
Madam Kariuki hailed the increased funding to the programme saying it will enable more vulnerable children to benefit.
The money is used by the guardians to cater for food and school uniform needs of the children.
“The government has been very committed to making sure unfortunate children get assistance in terms of their living and education matters. The increase of funds in this area from Sh470,000 to Sh900,000 is a huge mark of increased government efforts to care for the disadvantaged,” said Kariuki.