The Kenyan government has released KSh860 million to support over 430,000 vulnerable households under the Inua Jamii Programme, with payments set to begin on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
The funds, disbursed through the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services, target households caring for orphans and vulnerable children, each receiving KSh2,000 as part of the ongoing cash transfer initiative.
Thousands of households to benefit
According to the Ministry, a total of KSh860,396,000 has been released to 430,198 registered beneficiaries under the Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC) programme.
“The Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services, through the State Department for Children Services, has disbursed a total of Eight Hundred and Sixty Million, Three Hundred and Ninety Six Thousand Shillings to 430,198 beneficiaries,” the Ministry said in a statement.
The payments will be made through contracted service providers, with beneficiaries able to access the funds via mobile money platforms.
Mobile access to ease payments
The government said beneficiaries will receive their funds through the e-Citizen platform, allowing them to withdraw money using mobile phones by dialling *222#.
This approach is expected to improve accessibility, especially for households in remote areas, and reduce the need for physical travel to payment centres.
Principal Secretary Carren Ageng’o said the programme plays a critical role in strengthening families and supporting vulnerable children.
“The CT-OVC Programme aims to encourage fostering and retention of orphans and vulnerable children within their families and communities while promoting their human capital development,” she said.
Supporting vulnerable children
The CT-OVC programme is part of the broader Inua Jamii initiative, which supports elderly persons, people living with severe disabilities, and vulnerable children across the country.
Households enrolled in the programme typically receive KSh4,000 every two months, paid in two instalments of KSh2,000. The current disbursement covers the March 2026 allocation.
Officials say the programme is designed not only to provide financial support but also to improve access to education, nutrition, and healthcare for children in need.
Long-standing social protection effort
Since its launch in 2004, the CT-OVC programme has expanded significantly from an initial 500 households to hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries nationwide.
Government data indicates that millions of children in Kenya are classified as orphans or vulnerable, highlighting the continued need for sustained social protection programmes.
Through initiatives like Inua Jamii, authorities aim to strengthen community-based care systems and reduce risks such as child labour, early marriage, and school dropout.
The latest disbursement underscores the government’s ongoing commitment to supporting vulnerable populations and improving livelihoods across the country.
