Covid-19: 80,000 slum households to receive Sh5,000 monthly

A section of Kibera slums in Nairobi. [David Njaaga,Standard]

At least 80,000 households in informal settlement areas that have been affected by Covid-19, will receive a total of Sh606 million (€5 million) from the European Union through non-profit organisations.

According to the EU ambassador for Kenya Simon Mordue, the 80,000 households will each receive a monthly cash transfer of Sh 5,000.

“The EU is standing with Kenya during this difficult time, providing a lifeline through cash transfers for the worst affected people in Nairobi’s urban informal settlements, including women, the elderly and persons with disabilities,” he said in a statement today.

The direct cash transfers will be done via M-Pesa which will supplement the Ministry of Labour’s Inua Jamii programme.

EU in partnership with Oxfam in Kenya, Kenya Red Cross Society, Concern Worldwide, ACTED, IMPACT, the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness, and the Wangu Kanja Foundation, are expected to provide 20,000 households living in the Kibera, Korogocho, Mathare, Soweto, Majengo, Gitare, Marigo, Gatina Lunga, Kayole and Mukuru informal settlements of Nairobi with monthly cash transfers for three months, starting June.

According to the ambassador, the aim of the project is to improve food security covering 50 per cent of the recipients’ food needs, and other essential costs such as soap, water, rent, and mobile phone credit.

"The Covid-19 pandemic is impacting our most vulnerable communities hardest. The response to the pandemic is also happening in the midst of other disasters,” said Dr. Asha Mohammed, Secretary General, Kenya Red Cross Society.

She added: "Many households have lost income, cases of food insecurity, malnutrition and gender based violence have been on the rise. Hardest hit are households in Kibra, Korogocho, Mathare, Soweto, Majengo, Gitare, Marigo, Gatina Lunga, Kayole & Mukuru areas which this program targets."

The EU is contributing Sh35billion to Kenya’s response to Covid-19 while EU member states have already provided more than Sh3.3billion (EUR 30 million).

“That figure continues to increase and this collective support by Team Europe is a statement of Europe’s friendship and partnership with Kenya in these difficult global times,” the statement added.