State to end theft of Inua Jamii funds

President William Ruto’s administration is straightening out the disorder in the Inua Jamii cash transfer programme plagued by irregularities and illegalities.

Audit reports reveal the programme is riddled with ghost beneficiaries, who still receive payments.

To curb fraud, the government has proposed a new law allowing the seizure of assets from those who unfairly benefit from the scheme.

The Bill also spells out tough measures aimed at weeding out ghost beneficiaries reaping benefits from taxpayers.

The Social Protection Bill, 2025, sponsored by Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah requires beneficiaries to refund the full amount of excess funds irregularly received.

“Where the board erroneously pays money to a person who is not entitled to social protection or the payment exceeds the amount permitted by the board, the person shall refund the money so paid,” it reads.

Deductions can also be made from future payments. If the beneficiary is dead, their estate will repay the money.

“Their estate shall refund the money, or the excess amount of money paid shall be deducted from the subsequent payment made to the beneficiary,” the Bill reads.

The proposed law would replace the current National Social Assistance Authority with a board whose chairperson would be appointed by the President. That post previously was filled by a Cabinet Secretary.

“The board may institute recovery proceedings against any person who receives money from the board erroneously,” the proposed law reads.

In February last year alone, 919 Inua Jamii beneficiaries were over paid by Sh896,500, according to the audit of the state department manning the kitty. Some 15,243 caregivers represented more than one household, violating programme rules.

Auditor General Nancy Gathungu in a review of the fund’s accounts for the year ending June 30, 2024, flagged the breaches as illegal.

Through the Bill, President Ruto’s team will also clean the social protection database – to be maintained by the board.

“The board shall establish a social protection registry, which shall be a singular database for social protection interventions,” the Bill reads.

Should MPs pass the Bill, the registry shall maintain an inventory of vulnerable individuals and households. It would also provide a platform to select and register beneficiaries of social protection interventions.

According to the Bill, the registry would help coordinate social protection interventions better at the national and county levels.

It would provide data on vulnerable households in the event of shocks or emergencies. The system also would facilitate linkage and referral mechanisms for social protection interventions.

“The board shall facilitate real-time updating of changes in household data through interoperability with the other national registries,” the proposed law reads. It sets the stage for stricter oversight and penalties.