PMPS
Prime Minister Raila Odinga Wednesday launched a cash transfer programme that will earn 10,200 poorest households in Mombasa a stipend of Sh2,000 each.
Raila said the programme would be piloted in Mvita, Likoni, Changamwe and Kisauni where the households will receive the stipend after every two months.
Raila explained that the selection of these areas was guided by Kenya integrated household budget survey, which identified them as some of the poorest in Kenya.
The PM who launched the programme at Tononoka grounds in Mombasa added that based on the lessons learned from this pilot stage, the government would later roll out the project to all poor and vulnerable urban and rural households in the country.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga presents a cash donation to one of the beneficiaries of a government stipend at Tononoka grounds in Mombasa Wednesday. This was during the launch of the Urban Food Subsidy Cash Transfer programme for the elderly and the poor. Photo: Maarufu Mohammed/Standard. READ MOREState orders regional cargo to be collected at Naivasha ICD Over 200 start-ups empowered with finance, tax compliance literacy |
Noting that the amount of the stipend will be increased with time, Raila emphasized that a decent standard of living for the people is no longer a matter of mercy or sympathy for the poor.
"It is a constitutional requirement. It is also a millennium development goal," he added.
The PM went on to say that the bill of rights grants every Kenyan the right to a decent standard of living, adding the Kenya Vision 2030 also identifies equity and poverty reduction as one of the four main pillars of economic development.
He said, "The state can therefore no longer afford to allow any citizen to languish in poverty and disease."
He revealed that the urban food subsidy cash transfer is one the components on the National Social Protection Policy Programme the government is working on adding it was working on programmes to address risks associated with unemployment, injuries, and old age among others as the next targets.
Raila however acknowledged that while subsidies are justified to stem the tide of hunger, poor health and general deprivation, there was urgent need to address the low and declining agricultural productivity, which, he added, was the real cause of poverty.
He said, "We need bold policies that enable people to afford farm inputs. We must conserve our environment and we must do more irrigation" he said adding, "We are taking steps in this direction and I am confident they will bear fruits."
The PM stated that there was need for creativity, patience and determination to get the poor out of poverty, saying there was evidence that a small push will achieve this goal.
He thanked the government of Japan for financial assistance extended to the programme totaling nearly Sh200 million.
In response to demands from the local leaders, the PM said he would look into the possibility of appointing a Minister from Mombasa in place of the sacked minister for Tourism Najib Balala.
Addressing the gathering the local leaders distanced themselves from a section of Muslim leaders who had criticized the sacking of Balala, saying it had nothing to do with the memorandum of understanding they signed with ODM in 2007.
The leaders who included Assistant Ministers Ramadhan Kajembe and Ali Hassan Joho, and MPs Masoud Mwahima of Likoni, Omar Zonga of Msambweni and Mombasa mayor Mohammed Mohdhar criticized some Muslim leaders who were mixing religion with politics.
They emphasized that removal of Balala from the cabinet was not a betrayal of the Muslim community since he was working against the interests of ODM, his party.
Gender minister Naomi Shaban also spoke at the function and appealed to the PM to consider appointing another Mombasa MP to be Minister.
