The government has released Sh1.69 billion to 423,520 households caring for orphans and vulnerable children under the Inua Jamii social protection programme.
The latest disbursement, announced by the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services on Wednesday, covers the September-October 2026 payment cycle, with each beneficiary household receiving Sh4,000.
Children Services Principal Secretary Carren Ageng'o said the payments would be made through the contracted payment service provider, with disbursement commencing on Wednesday.
The allocation amounts to Sh1,694,080,000 and is intended to support vulnerable households in meeting the needs of children under their care.
The Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC) programme seeks to encourage families and communities to foster and retain orphans and vulnerable children rather than have them separated from their communities.
It also supports children's enrolment and transition in education, improves access to healthcare and nutrition, strengthens household food security and promotes child protection.
The latest payment follows a Sh850.696 million disbursement to 425,348 households in September, covering the July 2026 payment cycle. At the time, each household received Sh2,000.
The two payment announcements cover different periods, with the latest Sh4,000 allocation covering two months.
The CT-OVC programme is one of several components of Inua Jamii, which also supports older persons aged 70 and above and people with severe disabilities.
The programme was launched in 2004 in response to the effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which left many children orphaned or vulnerable. It targets extremely poor households with at least one orphan or vulnerable child as a permanent member.
The wider social protection initiative provides a safety net for Kenyans facing poverty, old age, disability and other forms of vulnerability.
Its impact is reflected in the experiences of beneficiaries across the country.
In October, 81-year-old Peter Nzioka, a resident of Sofia slum in Athi River, Machakos County, said that the Sh2,000 monthly stipend he receives under the Older Persons Cash Transfer had helped him meet basic household needs.
Nzioka, who has eight children, 19 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, said he used the money to buy food and household essentials.
"I use the money to buy basics like maize flour, sugar, cooking oil and soap. Inua Jamii is really helpful," he said.
Although Nzioka benefits from a different component of the programme, his experience illustrates how cash transfers help households facing financial difficulties meet basic needs.
The government has also introduced verification measures, including a biometric proof-of-life exercise, to ensure payments reach eligible beneficiaries and curb fraudulent claims.
Beneficiaries are required to undergo verification every six months to remain on the register. The exercise is intended to identify deceased or ineligible recipients and improve accountability in the management of public funds.
Payments under Inua Jamii were shifted from a bimonthly to a monthly schedule in July 2023, according to the State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs.
The government says the programme is designed to cushion vulnerable Kenyans against poverty and improve their access to essential services.
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