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Principal Secretary for the National Treasury, Dr. Chris Kiptoo, faced criticism from the Departmental Committee on Social Protection after failing to attend a key meeting to discuss the funding mechanism for the Inua Jamii program.
Committee Chairperson Hon. Alice Ng’ang’a (Thika) expressed frustration over Dr. Kiptoo’s absence, describing it as a recurring issue that undermines efforts to resolve critical matters affecting millions of vulnerable Kenyans. The Committee has demanded Dr. Kiptoo’s presence at a follow-up meeting scheduled for Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
“This is a Parliamentary sitting and must be accorded the respect it deserves. Kenyans’ lives are at stake, and this Committee is here to serve them,” Hon. Ng’ang’a stated.
At the heart of the issue is the handling of unclaimed funds from the Inua Jamii program, a cash transfer initiative for vulnerable citizens. These funds, often unclaimed due to challenges like lack of access or the death of beneficiaries, are redirected by banks to the National Treasury. Legislators criticized the Treasury for redistributing these “claw-back” funds to other sectors instead of returning them to the State Department for Social Protection, which recently enrolled 500,000 new beneficiaries.
Focus on Persons with Disabilities Bill
During the session, the Committee also engaged Joseph Motari, Principal Secretary for Social Protection, on the Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2023 (Senate Bill No. 7 of 2023). The proposed legislation seeks to enhance the rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities and strengthen the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD).
Discussions emphasized improving workplace rights, accessibility, and inclusive development. Hon. Timothy Wanyonyi (Westlands) highlighted the importance of addressing systemic barriers:
“I live with a disability, and I know what I go through. People living with disabilities must think of things differently. We must support them to gain easy accessibility in all sectors and live a good life. They deserve it.”
The Committee plans to table the Bill before Parliament on December 3, 2024, underscoring its commitment to championing the rights of Kenya’s vulnerable populations.
