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Officials hand over cash to beneficiaries at a community hall set up for a government cash transfer distribution event.
Kenya

Households Receive Sh6,000 Under Kenya’s Orphans Cash Transfer Programme

Officials hand over cash to beneficiaries at a community hall set up for a government cash transfer distribution event.

Households caring for orphaned and vulnerable children in Kenya are receiving Sh6,000 under the government’s Orphans and Vulnerable Children Cash Transfer Programme, according to Capitalfm.co.ke.

The disbursement forms part of one of Kenya’s longest-running social safety net schemes, designed to support families that have taken in children who have lost one or both parents. The programme, administered by the State Department for Social Protection, has been a cornerstone of the country’s efforts to cushion vulnerable households from chronic poverty.

A pillar of Kenya’s social protection system

Launched in 2004 as a pilot in a handful of districts, the OVC cash transfer programme has since expanded into a nationwide initiative reaching households across Kenya’s 47 counties. Beneficiaries receive a regular stipend intended to help cover the costs of school fees, food, clothing and basic healthcare for the children in their care. The amount disbursed has been adjusted periodically over the years to keep pace with inflation and changing household needs.

Part of a broader safety net

Kenya’s wider social protection architecture has grown considerably over the past two decades. Working with development partners including UNICEF and the World Bank, the government has rolled out a suite of cash transfer schemes targeting different categories of vulnerable people — including the elderly, persons with severe disabilities, and households in arid and semi-arid regions affected by recurring drought.

Impact evaluations over the years have linked the OVC programme to improved school enrolment, better nutrition outcomes and reduced reliance on harmful coping strategies such as child labour. The latest Sh6,000 disbursement, as reported by Capitalfm.co.ke, underscores the scheme’s continued role in Kenya’s social welfare landscape.

Sources

This report was written from coverage published by the following news organisations. Follow the links for the original reporting.

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