By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, January 09, 2026 - The Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services has released KSh 877,608,000 to support vulnerable households across the country under the Inua Jamii Cash Transfer Programme, marking another significant investment in Kenya’s social protection agenda.
The disbursement, earmarked for the November 2025 payment cycle, will benefit 438,804 registered households, with each household slated to receive KSh 2,000. Payments are set to begin Friday, 9 January 2026, through the government’s contracted payment service provider.
The payout forms part of the Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC) programme, one of several key schemes under the broader Inua Jamii initiative. The programme is structured to provide regular cash support to families caring for orphans and vulnerable children, helping to offset costs related to food security, education, health, nutrition and overall household stability.
In its official statement, the State Department for Children Services explains that the CT-OVC programme encourages families to retain and care for vulnerable children within their communities, while also supporting their long-term development and wellbeing.
This latest payment continues a pattern of sustained government funding for the Inua Jamii programme over the past year. For example: In October 2025, the government released about KSh 880 million for the September 2025 payment cycle, also supporting around 440,000 households.
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Earlier in June 2025, a significantly larger payment of KSh 3.5 billion was disbursed covering the May 2025 cycle to more than 1.7 million beneficiaries under the broader Inua Jamii cash transfer programme. The programme has also undergone recent operational improvements, including a transition to mobile money payments via the e-Citizen 222# platform, aimed at making access to funds easier and more efficient for beneficiaries.
The Inua Jamii programme remains one of the government’s flagship social safety net initiatives, designed to reduce vulnerability, boost inclusion, and strengthen household capacity to care for children who might otherwise face heightened economic hardship.
By ensuring monthly cash support to eligible households, the programme helps cushion families against shocks and supports basic needs, particularly for households that may not qualify for other social services. This accounts for part of the Ministry’s broader strategy to reduce poverty, improve child welfare outcomes and enhance access to education and nutrition.
