On Thursday, President William Ruto revealed that the government will begin distributing all Inua Jamii cash transfers to vulnerable Kenyans through the eCitizen platform. This announcement was made during the First Anniversary of the eCitizen Directorate at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi. The move is designed to simplify and streamline the process for vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, orphans, and individuals with disabilities, who often face challenges in collecting their payments.
President Ruto expressed his satisfaction with the initiative, stating, “I am very happy that from tomorrow, we are launching the first pilot to pay our cash transfers through eCitizen. These citizens will no longer need to queue in banks or travel long distances.” The new system is set to roll out on Friday, November 29, marking a significant step in digitizing government services.
The transition to digital payments aligns with a promise Ruto made during his 2022 election campaign. “I made two promises during the last elections: that vulnerable citizens, including the elderly, orphans, and people with disabilities, should be paid like public servants,” Ruto said. The new platform aims to ensure that these vulnerable citizens receive timely payments without the need to endure long waiting times or arduous travel.
Previously, recipients of Inua Jamii payments often faced delays of six to eight months, causing significant hardship. “I am pleased that now we pay them on time, just like public servants,” the President noted, emphasizing that the digital system would eliminate these delays.
Ruto also shared plans for the broader use of eCitizen, revealing that his administration intends to move all government services to the platform. “It is my commitment that hopefully in the next couple of months, every government service must be on the digital platform so that every citizen can enjoy efficiency,” he added.
