NAIROBI, Kenya – In 2024, government safety net programmes under the Inua Jamii initiative revealed a huge gender disparity in beneficiaries, with women-led households being the most significant recipients.
Data from the Public Service Commission (PSC) highlighted that only about 20pc of the Sh18.7 billion disbursed reached male-headed families, a statistic sparking discussions on the program’s equity and efficiency.
Of the estimated 441,760 households benefiting from the funds, which cater to orphans and vulnerable children, a staggering 82.8pc were female-led.
These households collectively received Sh6.37 billion, while their male counterparts—comprising just 17.2%—struggled with access.
Each beneficiary household was entitled to a Sh2,000 monthly stipend, underscoring the limited reach for male-led families, where only one in five could access the funds compared to women-led homes.
However, the initiative’s integrity has come under scrutiny.
PSC Chairperson Anthony Muchiri, in the 2024 PSC values report, raised concerns over inconsistencies in fund disbursements, flagging discrepancies between the amounts allocated and the actual number of beneficiaries.
“Inconsistencies were noted between the amounts disbursed and the number of beneficiaries for the Inua Jamii programs,” Muchiri stated, calling for a transparent mechanism to ensure equitable distribution across all 47 counties.
The lack of a clear expansion plan for the program’s scale-up and the absence of impact evaluations were additional areas of concern.
These shortcomings highlight a potential gap in effectively supporting the marginalized and vulnerable groups targeted by the programme.
Geographical disparities were also evident. Turkana County had the highest number of beneficiaries, with 24,848 households (5.6%), while Lamu County recorded the fewest, with just 1,867 households (0.4%).
Similar trends were noted under the Persons with Severe Disabilities Cash Transfer Programme, where male-headed households formed 54.8% of the beneficiaries, contrasting with the broader gender dynamics of Inua Jamii.
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu added her voice to the growing calls for reform, emphasizing the need for accountability and equity in the programme.
Her report recommended a comprehensive audit to reconcile disbursements with beneficiary lists and ensure fair distribution across counties.
“The State Department for Social Protection must prioritize equity in registration and disbursement to avoid leaving vulnerable groups behind,” Gathungu advised.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly’s Committee on Social Protection has summoned Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo over a controversial decision to cut more than Sh100 million from the Inua Jamii programme.
Despite three prior invitations, Kiptoo’s failure to appear prompted the committee to invoke constitutional provisions compelling his testimony.
The committee seeks clarification on why the undisbursed funds were returned to the National Treasury rather than redistributed within the programme.
This procedural issue adds to the broader critique of the scheme’s management, potentially undermining its objective of providing a safety net for Kenya’s most vulnerable populations.
