Over 53,000 regular Inua Jamii beneficiaries in both Kisii
and Nyamira have been urged to observe social distancing to avoid the spread of
Covid 19.
Addressing the press, Deputy Director state department for Social
Protection Mac ‘ Botongore challenged old
people to take care as they receive money from the bank, to avoid contracting
coronavirus.
The fund is part of the Ksh. 8.5 billion announced by the
President during his 4th address to the nation on the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The immunity of the aged people is too low, the reason
as to why, we ask people to minimize risks to expose them,” said Mr
Botongore.
Mr. Botongore said that the aged require high standard of
hygiene.
The beneficiaries were sensitized on the payment modalities
and the hygiene protocols to be observed in order to avoid spread of Covid-19.
The 1.1 million beneficiaries are mainly the elderly and
people living with disabilities, registered for government stipends monthly and
are drawn from across the country to cushion them from the effects of Covid 19.
The money has already been wired to the four banks
contracted to pay the beneficiaries.
Each beneficiary is set to receive Shs.8, 000 payments for the
months of January though to April this year.
They are allocated Shs.2000 per month.
“Beneficiaries are therefore, advised that the funds will
remain in their accounts for a period of six months hence there is no need for
all of them to rush to the banks to collect the money at the same time to avoid
crowding at the payment points,” he said.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, in his address, announced that his
administration had rolled out a program to help the needy households in the
country who have been adversely affected by the effects of the coronavirus
pandemic.