State seeks budget expansion for elderly program

The government is set to increase the budgetary allocation to the social security program to Sh30 billion in the next financial year.

This as the number of elderly Kenyans registering for the program continues to grow.

Labor and Social protection principal secretary Susan Mochache said despite the allocation the government needs to further grow the scheme to grow the social protection net to cover the most vulnerable in society.

“Kenya today even being a leader in social protection allocates just about 0.3 percent of GDP to social protection. In very mature economies and where social protection is quite dynamic and mature you tlak about an average of about 14 percent,” Ms Mochache said.

Kenya has been running the social protection scheme since 2013 and has so far benefited 310,000 elderly people.

The number is set to grow to 530,000 this year as disbursements start in April with the government keen to grow the schemes provisions.

The National Safety Net Program, popularly referred to as Inua Jamii plan, also covers persons with severe disability and orphans.

Ms Mochahce said the government has begun signing up the elderly to receive their funds on their phones rather than going to cash centers.

“Beginning with these 530,000 citizens we have registered, all of them will have the option of accessing their money through their mobile phone. We have now been able to reach that milestone,” she said.

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social protection inua jamii budget GDP disability elderly Susan Mochache

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