By Shadrack Nyakoe
At least 353,000 households with orphans are now being supported by the Kenyan Government under the Cash Transfer program for Orphans.
This was revealed during the launch of the Ministry of Labour, Social protection Sector Review Launch.
Labour CS Ukur Yattani said in 2013, the government only supported 153,000 households.
The CS said the Country has made a steady progress in mounting a social protection system that has prevented many needy Kenyans from sliding into abject poverty.
He said the number of the older persons in Cash Transfer rose from 59,000 beneficiaries to 833,000 households.
Yattani attributed the increase to a policy decision in 2017 that spelt out Universal Social Pension to all persons aged 70 years.
He added that persons with severe disabilities under the coverage shot to 47,000 households from 14,700 between 2013 and 2017.
“As a government we are committed to ensure the vulnerable sustain their lives and access social amenities, social assistance and security with an overall objective to support the big 4 agenda,” he said.
Social Protection PS Nelson Marwa said the department will ensure social protection programmes are well implemented.
Marwa said the government is focusing on reaching out to more vulnerable people.
Cabinet Administrative Secretary Abdul Bahari said the new Social Protection system and policies will absorb the needy and vulnerable who are not in the program.