MP Proposes Bill Seeking to Have Govt Provide Stipend for Low-Income Earners
Peter Masara, a Member of Parliament representing Suna West, has introduced a bill suggesting that the government should provide financial support to low-income Kenyans to help alleviate the burden of high living expenses.
In the proposed changes to the Social Assistance Act for 2023, Masara emphasized that individuals in Kenya wishing to enroll in the program must demonstrate their low-income status. Specifically, these individuals will be identified as employed but unable to afford their fundamental necessities.
He further states that the individual must demonstrate that their lack of substantial income is not a result of negligence or insufficient effort.
If the legislation passes, the Social Assistance Authority will need to periodically reassess the eligibility of individuals listed for social assistance every six months.
“The bill proposes to require the Cabinet Secretary in consultation with the Authority to regularly review the interval payments and the amounts payable under social assistance to persons in need to reflect the changes in the cost of living,” Masara stated.
According to the legislation, the term “cost of living” refers to the expenses associated with acquiring goods and services, as determined by fluctuations in the consumer price index reported by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
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Moreover, the Cabinet Secretary, in collaboration with the Authority, will need to devise a plan to implement this suggestion.
Additionally, the legislation suggests that the Social Assistance Authority work together with county administrations to deliver social services to senior citizens across all counties.
The legislation also mandates regular evaluations of financial aid provided to seniors through social welfare programs, taking into account inflation and increasing living expenses. This is aimed at ensuring that elderly individuals in the community maintain a respectable standard of living regardless of their age.
Presently, the Inua Jamii program, administered by the government, has enrolled more than 200,000 senior citizens in Kenya and has allocated Ksh2 billion specifically for their support.
In February, the Ministry of Labour encouraged 100,000 eligible Kenyans to sign up for mobile money services to expedite the disbursement of their funds and ensure they all receive their entitled benefits.
CS Florence Bore observed that up to this point, 207,000 recipients had been paid their December allowances via mobile money platforms.
MP Proposes Bill Seeking to Have Govt Provide Stipend for Low-Income Earners
