The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has sent Sh3,523,794,000 to pay 1,761,897 people who are part of the Inua Jamii Programme. The payment started on Monday, and each person will receive Sh2,000 for the February 2025 cycle. The Ministry, through the State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs, said people can get the money by dialing *222# or visiting the nearest Mpesa agent.
The Inua Jamii Programme helps older people aged 70 and above, people who care for orphans and vulnerable children, and people who care for those with severe disabilities. The Ministry told people who do not have registered phone numbers to go to any Safaricom or Mpesa agent in the country to register a line that will let them receive their money.
On Tuesday at KBC, Joseph Motari, the Principal Secretary for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs, told people to withdraw any money they have not collected within five days. He said that the Ministry will take back any money that is not claimed.
"Those who have not claimed their Inua Jamii funds have five more days to do it. If they do not claim by the 15th of this month (Saturday), we will think the person does not exist," Motari said. The government changed how Inua Jamii payments are made in January 2025, from banks to the e-Citizen mobile payment platform. This change lets people receive their money directly on their phones through the e-Citizen M-Pesa system.
The Inua Jamii program wants to help 2.5 million people by 2027. Motari told senior citizens who have not yet switched to M-pesa payments that their money will be safe for the next three months.
"It has been two months since we changed the cash transfer payments to M-Pesa. Senior citizens should not worry—their money is safe. They just need to register, and they will receive all their funds," he said. When asked about increasing the current Sh2,000 payment, Motari said that an increase is expected, but it depends on how much money the government has.
"The money comes from the government's budget. Many Kenyans are not paying their taxes, which makes it hard to increase the payment," Motari said.
The Inua Jamii Programme helps older people aged 70 and above, people who care for orphans and vulnerable children, and people who care for those with severe disabilities. The Ministry told people who do not have registered phone numbers to go to any Safaricom or Mpesa agent in the country to register a line that will let them receive their money.
On Tuesday at KBC, Joseph Motari, the Principal Secretary for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs, told people to withdraw any money they have not collected within five days. He said that the Ministry will take back any money that is not claimed.
"Those who have not claimed their Inua Jamii funds have five more days to do it. If they do not claim by the 15th of this month (Saturday), we will think the person does not exist," Motari said. The government changed how Inua Jamii payments are made in January 2025, from banks to the e-Citizen mobile payment platform. This change lets people receive their money directly on their phones through the e-Citizen M-Pesa system.
The Inua Jamii program wants to help 2.5 million people by 2027. Motari told senior citizens who have not yet switched to M-pesa payments that their money will be safe for the next three months.
"It has been two months since we changed the cash transfer payments to M-Pesa. Senior citizens should not worry—their money is safe. They just need to register, and they will receive all their funds," he said. When asked about increasing the current Sh2,000 payment, Motari said that an increase is expected, but it depends on how much money the government has.
"The money comes from the government's budget. Many Kenyans are not paying their taxes, which makes it hard to increase the payment," Motari said.
