Delayed Inua Jamii Stipends Trigger Backlash Against PS Carren Agengo

The government's flagship social protection programme, Inua Jamii, has come under fresh focus after complaints emerged from beneficiaries and caregivers who say stipends meant for vulnerable children have not been received for an extended period, leaving many households struggling to meet basic needs.

Inua Jamii, which operates under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, provides regular cash transfers to vulnerable groups through the Older Persons Cash Transfer programme, the Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children and the Persons with Severe Disabilities Cash Transfer programme.

The initiative serves as one of the country's largest social safety nets, offering monthly support that is usually disbursed in bi-monthly payment cycles.

The latest grievance centres on payments meant for children enrolled under the Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children programme, with affected families claiming that expected stipends have not reached beneficiaries despite continued reliance on the funds for food, education, healthcare and other household expenses.

The complaints have prompted calls for clarification from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection regarding the status of the delayed payments, the number of beneficiaries affected and the timeline for disbursement of any outstanding funds.

The delays have now placed Children Welfare Services Principal Secretary Carren Agengo under pressure, with frustrated beneficiaries and caregivers questioning how one of the country's flagship welfare programmes can go for months without payments reaching some of its most vulnerable recipients.

For many households enrolled under the programme, the stipends are not merely supplementary income but a critical source of support used to purchase food, pay school-related expenses, access healthcare and meet other day-to-day needs.

As a result, any interruption in payments can have immediate consequences for children and caregivers who depend on the programme for stability.

The complaints also draw attention to the administration of a programme that reaches vulnerable families across Kenya and has long been presented as a cornerstone of the country's social protection framework.

Beneficiaries say they expect greater transparency and communication whenever delays occur, particularly where households rely almost entirely on the funds for survival.

Questions are now being raised about whether there are administrative, financial or operational challenges affecting disbursements under the programme and whether affected beneficiaries have been formally informed of the reasons behind the reported delays.

Some complainants have gone further and directly accused the Ministry leadership of failing to safeguard the interests of vulnerable children, arguing that prolonged delays undermine the very purpose for which the programme was established.

The concerns are likely to intensify calls for the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to publicly address the matter, provide an update on the status of pending payments and reassure beneficiaries that eligible households will receive the support allocated to them.

Affected families are also urging relevant oversight institutions to establish the cause of the reported delays and ensure that funds intended for vulnerable children reach their intended recipients without further interruption.

"Hello Cyprian. I would kindly request you to follow up on the Inua Jamii funds that fall under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, specifically under the children welfare programme. I am writing as a concerned citizen after receiving complaints from caregivers and beneficiaries who are enrolled in the Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children programme. The information I have is that stipends meant for orphaned and vulnerable children have not been received for about two months now. These funds are part of the government social protection system and are meant to support basic needs such as food, school requirements, and healthcare for children from vulnerable households. From what affected caregivers are saying, there has been no clear communication on why the payments have not been released or when the next disbursement will be made. Many of them depend fully on these funds and say the delay has made it difficult to meet daily needs for the children under their care. I think PS Carren Agengo is misusing the funds because orphans have not received their stipends for two months now. Thank you."