Kenya’s Ministry of Devolution and planning is to start sending cash transfers to the elderly, poor and vulnerable groups through cards, effectively doing away with cheques.
Similarly it is a pointer, the government is ready to officially roll out a humanitarian programme mooted in 2007 targeting over 165,000 people aged above 65.
The government support is to cater for their basic needs to improve their lives even at old age.
The ministry has partnered with payments solution provider, MasterCard to launch a special card to facilitate payment of services at the Huduma centers.
“This will be extended to cash transfers for the elderly,” Cabinet secretary in the ministry, Ann Waiguru said Thursday at a stakeholders forum with private sector members.
Significantly it shortens the time money takes to reach recipients compared to issuance of cheques.
Plans are specifically targeted at boosting ease of doing business and financial inclusion in the country.
Latest budget estimates by the National treasury has allocated Sh 12 billion to support vulnerable groups, with a special emphasis on the elderly population.
Beneficiaries including orphans, vulnerable children and persons with severe disability are to receive a monthly stipend of Sh 2,000 in the yet to be launched initiative.
Over the next four weeks government intends to roll out additional 10 huduma centers to ease access to government services.
