The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, through the State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs, has announced the nationwide migration of all Inua Jamii beneficiaries to the E-Citizen-M-Pesa payment platform. Starting January 2025, the beneficiaries of the programme will access their funds via M-Pesa agents by dialing the USSD code *222#.
This transition is a collaboration between E-Citizen and Safaricom, aimed at streamlining the disbursement of funds while ensuring convenience and accessibility for beneficiaries. The initiative underscores the government’s commitment to leveraging digital solutions to improve service delivery.
Speaking during the rollout event, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs emphasized that beneficiaries with existing Safaricom lines do not need to purchase new ones. They are only required to ensure that their M-Pesa accounts are active to receive the disbursed funds. Beneficiaries without registered Safaricom lines can easily acquire one and activate their M-Pesa accounts at any Safaricom or M-Pesa agent across the country.
“This migration to the E-Citizen-M-Pesa platform will simplify the payment process for beneficiaries, reducing delays and enhancing accountability,” the Principal Secretary noted.
The move is expected to benefit thousands of vulnerable citizens under the Inua Jamii Programme, which supports senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. Beneficiaries are encouraged to ensure that their Safaricom lines are registered in their names and match the details on their national identification cards.
The government has also set up support channels to assist beneficiaries during the transition. For inquiries, beneficiaries can visit County or Sub-county Social Development Offices, County or Sub-county Children Services Offices, County Disability Offices, or call the Inua Jamii toll-free line 1533.
Ambassador Isaac Ochieng, Director General of E-Citizen, along with other government officials, attended the rollout event. Ambassador Ochieng lauded the partnership with Safaricom as a significant step toward achieving the government’s vision of financial inclusivity for all.
This milestone marks a new chapter for the Inua Jamii Programme, reflecting the government’s unwavering commitment to digitizing public services and enhancing the welfare of its citizens. Beneficiaries are encouraged to take immediate steps to comply with the new system to avoid disruptions in accessing their funds.