Compliance monitoring of cash transfer programme begins at the State Department for Social Protection
12:03:2024: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has started the compliance monitoring exercise on the implementation of the Older Persons Cash Transfer Programme (OPCTP) at the State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizens Affairs, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.
Launched last week at NSSF Building by EACC’s Commissioner Col. (Rtd) Alfred Mshimba in an event that was graced by the Cabinet Secretary, Labour and Social Protection Ms Florence Bore, and Principle Secretary, State Department of for Social Protection and Senior Citizens Affairs, Mr. Joseph Motari, the exercise will identify weaknesses and opportunities that may be exploited to perpetuate corrupt and unethical practices. It will also provide recommendations to strengthen the systems and mainstream integrity, accountability and transparency in the management of resources allocated to the OPCTP.
It will help determine whether the State Department for Social Protection is managing the OPCT programme efficiently, transparently, and prudently in accordance with the laws and regulations in place. The focus of the exercise will be on four main elements of start-up and mobilization; targeting and enrolment; payment; and change management.
The EACC monitoring team will look into the policies, legal and institutional framework, procedures, processes, and work practices adopted in the OPCT Programme within the Ministry’s head office in Nairobi and selected regional offices. The team will also visit and hold discussions with officers from other Government departments and stakeholders involved in the implementation of the programme.
They will study the existing systems, policies, procedures and practices used in the cash transfer programmes, ascertain their effectiveness and identify and profile areas of weaknesses, loopholes and avenues for non-compliance to regulatory requirements, and challenges in the system. This will be done by way of formal and informal interviews with senior management and staff of targeted institutions and beneficiaries, content analysis of the various documents used in the cash transfer programme, review of policy and operational records, observe payment processes and visit sampled beneficiaries. A report of the findings and recommendations will then be presented to the leadership of the Ministry.
The Kenya Population of 2019 Census estimated that older people comprised 6 per cent or 2.7 million people. This number, said EACC’s Director of Preventive Services, Mr. Vincent Okong’o, is expected to increase to 10.3 per cent by 2050 due to such factors as better health outcomes, improved nutrition, and advanced technology in treatment, early intervention, and cure of diseases among others.
OPCT was started as a pilot in 2007 with only 300 beneficiaries. The current beneficiaries are 833,129 out of the total Inua Jamii Programme beneficiaries totalling 1,233,129. Other Programmes under the Inua Jamii are the Orphans and Vulnerable Children, and the Persons with Severe Disabilities Cash Transfer. In 2017, the OPCT was made Universal for all older persons above 70 years. However, the resources haven’t been adequate to cover all eligible older persons. Ms Bore appreciated the scope of the monitoring adding that it will be critical in unearthing weaknesses in the governance of the cash transfer programme. “We shall be happy to receive the findings which will no doubt help to streamline the cash transfer programme,” added the Cabinet Secretary.
The process, promised Commissioner Mshimba, is not about casting blame but rather empowering all stakeholders to be part of the solution and implored officers at the Ministry to take part in the exercise proactively.
“It is a commitment to a culture of integrity and an investment in the future of this institution. I call upon all officers of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to actively participate in this exercise and to embrace the outcomes with open minds,” he said.
