The government has started a programme to support needy families with weekly stipends. Speaking at State House during a Covid-19 briefing, President Uhuru Kenyatta said needy households have been identified in Nairobi that will be inaugural recipients of the Covid-19 support stipend.
The pilot programme started on Wednesday and some of the beneficiaries have received their stipend. President Kenyatta said the government has released Kshs 8.5 billion to the elderly and vulnerable people under the cash transfer programme under the Ministry of Labor.
Kshs 500 million in arrears have also been released to people with severe disabilities, “We will provide all necessary assistance to groups, communities, social economic sectors that have been hardest hit by the pandemic,” said President Kenyatta.
Noting the important role played by health workers, the President has directed the Ministry of Public Service and the Ministry of Health to develop a welfare package to cushion the frontline health workers, “These should include actions by medical insurance companies to cover the health requirements of our hospital staff especially those dealing with this pandemic,” he said.