Hon Atanus Manyala Keya, Assistant Minister and Rtd Maj. General Ali Mohammed, Postmaster General, Kenya Postal Corporation of Kenya signs an agreement on Social Protection- Cash Transfer to older persons of 65 years and above at the Ministry’s Headquarters on 3rd September 2010

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development today signed an agreement with the Kenya Postal Corporation to disburse Kshs. 590 million in the current financial year to the 33,000 older persons so far enrolled under the older persons cash transfer programme.

Signing the agreement on behalf of the Ministry at the Ministry’s headquarters, Hon. Atanus Manyala Keya, Assistant Minister said the main mandate of the ministry was to provide social protection interventions to the poor and vulnerable individuals to enable them lead dignified lives.

In regard to the above, he said that ministry has five programmes that include:-

• The Orphans’ and vulnerable children (OVC) that targets 115,500 households with a budget of Kshs. 835 million this financial year.
• The Older Persons Cash Transfer of Kshs 530 million targeting 33,000 poor and vulnerable older persons of over 65 years.
• The Women Enterprise Fund (WEF) with an allocation of Kshs Kshs.400 million this financial year.
• The National Fund for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) with an allocation of Kshs. 200 million this financial year.
• The well targeted Urban Food Subsidy is yet to be inaugurated.

Dr. James Nyikal, Permanent Secretary in the ministry said that the use of postal services will not only reach a wider scope nationally, but will also  save the District Gender  and Social Development Officers who risked their lives carrying a lot of money to disburse to the older persons in their respective districts .

He expressed optimism of the cash transfer mechanisms through Postal Corporation saying it is working well with the Orphans’ and Vulnerable Children cash Transfer (OVC) since it was launched in May this year.

Signing on behalf of Kenya Postal Corporation, Maj General Rtd. Ali Hussien said the Corporation was happy to be associated with alleviating the plight of the poor and vulnerable members of the Society.

He said since Postal Corporation has more outlets than the banks, it will guarantee effective and efficient services to the beneficiaries of this program.