The Labour Ministry has set aside Sh70 million for an audit of the multi-billion shilling cash transfer programme for orphans, older persons and people with severe disabilities to ascertain whether there has been abuse.
Acting Labour secretary Raychelle Omamo told the Senate Standing committee on Labour Wednesday that there had been challenges in the administration of the fund thus necessitating an audit.
The ministry revealed that a re-certification of the programme targeting orphans and vulnerable children, persons with severe disabilities and older persons is being undertaken to root out fraudsters.
"We accept that the challenges experienced in the administration of this programme are teething problems. It is a new scheme and we are aware of some complaints raised.
In the new financial year 2015/16, we have set aside Sh70m to audit the scheme. We will take into account information we have received from stakeholders including what you have raised," she told an informal Senate meeting.
Ms Omamo, who was accompanied by PS Ali Noor Ismail, said the government had spent a total of Sh6.6 billion in the financial year ended June 30, 2015 to cater for the needs of orphans and vulnerable children, persons with extreme disabilities and older persons aged above 65 years.
Out of the Sh6.6 billion, Sh2.8 billion was disbursed to older persons, Sh770 million to persons with extreme disabilities and Sh825 to orphans and vulnerable children.
In the same financial year, the donor community committed Sh6.2 billion for households of orphans and vulnerable children. The ministry said the scheme targets the extremely poor and is not universal to all categories of beneficiaries across the country.
"We target the poor of the poor. We pick persons with extreme disabilities who need care for nearly 24 hours," she said.
The Labour committee chaired by Kilifi Senator Stewardz Madzayo convened the meeting to deliberate the status of the scheme after senators complained of opaqueness in the administration of the billions meant to benefit the most vulnerable in society.
Senators David Musila (Kitui), Mutula Kilonzo Junior (Makueni), Wilfred Machage (Migori), Moses Wetangula (Bungoma), Ziporah Kitony (nominated) and Billow Kerrow (Mandera) called for a complete audit of the scheme.
"This scheme is highly abused and nobody knows the beneficiaries on the ground. We need a complete relook because it targets the very vulnerable," Mr Wetangula said.
The Senators also wanted to know the mechanism for disbursement of the funds saying some counties or constituencies get more funding than deserving zones.
"We want to know the mode of payment and whether the national government has put in place a verification mechanism for disbursement," Madzayo asked.
They also sought to know whether the government had undertaken a census of persons who are entitled to the payments in all the 47 counties.
In response, Ms Omamo and the PS acknowledged the need to streamline the programme saying there may have been loopholes.
"We are ready to accept that its noble programme which may have had some challenges. We want to be transparent and accountable and ensure the programme assists the vulnerable in society," Mr Noor said.
Ms Omamo said for beneficiaries to receive payments, thorough verification is done that involves the use of biometric technology.
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