NAIROBI, Nov 04, 2009 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- The Kenyan government said Wednesday it would roll out a new program that will see 100,000 vulnerable persons in the country benefit from a 600 million shillings (about 8 million U.S. dollars) initiative to cushion them from impacts of food insecurity.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga said each of the targeted families will receive a 1,500 shillings (about 20 U.S. dollars) monthly food subsidy through mobile phone transfer or electronic card system.
Odinga said the program, which will be implemented by the ministry of gender in partnership with the World Food Program and British charity Oxfam, will run as a pilot in Nairobi for nine months after which it will be rolled out to other urban centers in the country.
"A comprehensive information management system has been put in place to assess the efficiency of the program and provide the necessary checks and balances for the effective implementation of the program," he said.
Speaking after receiving the interim report of the task force on the development of a comprehensive well targeted food scheme in Kenya, Odinga said the Okoa Jamii Program set to be piloted in Nairobi this month, will also see over 100,000 poor and vulnerable persons benefit from the monthly assistance.
"The outcome of the pilot program will inform the roll-out of Saidia Jamii program in July 2010," Odinga told journalists after receiving an interim report of a task force formed to come up with a food subsidy scheme to cushion the poor from increasing food prices and effects of famine.
The task force was formed in February this year following the approval of the Cabinet. Its objectives were to review, evaluate and critically analyze current subsidy arrangements with a view to developing a comprehensive food scheme for Kenya.
"Careful consideration has been made by the task force to ensure that it is cost effective," he added.
"Of the total cost of the piloting program (600 million shillings) only 10 percent will go towards administrative cost while the balance 90 percent will go directly into supporting the real needy people."
Over the past five months, the task force has prepared a report on the efficiency of the current targeted subsidy schemes which include school feeding programs, cash transfers to orphans and vulnerable children and the emergency food relief program in addressing food security in Kenya.
Odinga said the project will run as a pilot in Nairobi for nine months after which it will be rolled out to other urban centers in the country.
"Each household will be receiving 1,500 per shillings monthly delivered through mobile phone transfer and electronic card system, " the PM said.
The recommendations of the task force await cabinet approval, with the prime minister optimistic that they shall be no delays in implementing the program.
