How to enrol older persons in the Inua Jamii program

The Inua Jamii program is a Kenyan government initiative that provides financial assistance through regular cash transfers to vulnerable citizens.

Its main beneficiaries include the elderly (70 and above), orphans, vulnerable children, and people with severe disabilities.

Also Watch: Gov’t Releases KSh 4.6B Inua Jamii Funds After Delay

1. Check Eligibility

All persons aged 70 years and above.

The person must not be in any pension scheme (OPTC)

They must be a Kenyan citizen with a valid National ID.

2. Prepare Required Documents

The older person needs to bring their original National ID card during registration.

Also Watch: Gov’t to register beneficiaries of the Inua Jamii to NHIF

If they don’t have a physical ID (or are applying but don’t have it on them), some counties allow them to bring an abstract or copy, according to local sub-county social development officers.

It’s helpful to bring along a caregiver, especially if the person is very old or not very mobile.

3. Where to Register

Register at County or Sub-county Social Development Offices or through Inua Jamii registration points when there is a mass registration drive.

During these registration exercises, local administration (chiefs, county offices) coordinate and inform communities.

4. Use the USSD Code (for some parts of the process).

Eligible older persons (or their caregivers) can dial *222# on their Safaricom line to access Inua Jamii registration via eCitizen.

Through the USSD, you can select “Inua Jamii,” choose your language, and then enroll.

5. Payment Setup

For many beneficiaries, Inua Jamii payments are made via mobile money (M-Pesa) on the e-Citizen platform.

Beneficiaries need to have a registered Safaricom line that matches their ID and activate M-Pesa.

After registration, the older person (or their caregiver) is linked to a payment mechanism so they can receive the monthly stipend (currently KSh 2,000 for qualifying older persons).

6. Follow-Up / Verification

After initial registration, there may be home visits by social development officers to verify that the older person is genuinely in need.

The process is meant to be free — no charges should be paid to register.

If there are any issues (e.g., someone didn’t receive their stipend), they can raise complaints through the County Social Services Office.

7. Health Coverage

Once enrolled, older persons benefiting from Inua Jamii are strongly encouraged to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA) to access affordable healthcare.