Over 5,000 Households Receive EIP Payments for March-April, May-June Cycles
A total of 5,211 participants of the Economic Inclusion Programme (EIP) have received their payments for the March-April to May-June cycles.
The funds cumulatively total to Kshs.108 million and were disbursed from 21st September 2022 to beneficiaries in Kisumu, Marsabit, Murang’a, Makueni and Taita Taveta counties.
‘‘The EIP Participants are to receive an Asset Transfer (AT) of Kshs. 30,000 to be disbursed in two tranches of Kshs. 20,000 and Kshs. 10,000 to enable them start income generating activities,’’ said, Assistant Director for Social Development, Peter Murigu.
The Asset Transfer payment is a grant given to participants to support them start select businesses. The AT payments are disbursed after training of participants on various topics on business management under the Economic Inclusion Programme.
‘‘The withdrawals are done immediately where the mentors and mentor supervisors follow-up on utilisation of the funds. The first withdrawal is free of charge, but subsequent withdrawals will attract a fee,’’ says Mr. Murigu.
The beneficiaries will access their payments from banks they have opened EIP accounts with.
The banks contracted by the government include: Cooperative Bank of Kenya Ltd (CO-OP Bank); Equity Bank Kenya Ltd (EBLK); KCB Bank (Kenya) Ltd; Kenya Post Office Saving Bank (POSTBANK); Kenya Women Microfinance Bank Plc (KWFT); and National Bank of Kenya (NBK).
“Since the EIP account is a normal bank account, the will be no timeline for accessing payments by the beneficiaries. However, participants are encouraged to maintain an active account by making periodic withdrawals (within every six months) to avoid accounts falling dormant,’’ says Mr Murigu.
Under the Economic Inclusion Programme, non NSNP participant households get a monthly consumption support of Ksh. 2,000 payable bi-monthly for a period of one year. The NSNP (CT-OVC, OPCT, PWsD-CT and HSNP) participant households receive their usual cash transfer stipend. At the same time, participant households (both NSNP and Non NSNP) receive asset transfer of Ksh. 30,000.
The Economic Inclusion programme targets poor and vulnerable households including those under the National Safety Net Programme (NSNP - CT-OVC, OPCT, PWsD-CT and HSNP). These households should have a member (participant) who can do business, willing to participate in VSLA activities and skills training.
As a proof of life, after every six months participants should present themselves in person to the respective banks to transact biometrically as an evidence that he/she is alive.
Also, EIP has mentors and mentor supervisors who are always on the ground and updating the SDO in case of any changes at the household level for them to initiate case management.