The government has released Ksh. 877,608,000 to support vulnerable families countrywide under the Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable (CT-OVC) Programme, bolstering up its commitment to social protection and child welfare.

The Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services, in a statement issued on Thursday, said that the funds will benefit 438,804 households registered under the Inua Jamii social protection framework.

Each household that qualifies for the funds will receive Ksh. 2,000 as part of the November 2025 payment cycle.

According to the State Department for Children Services, disbursement of the funds is set to begin on Friday, January 9, 2026. The payments will be processed through the government’s contracted Payment Service Provider.

The CT-OVC Programme is designed with a sole intention of strengthening family-and community-based care systems for orphans and vulnerable children, ensuring they grow up in safe and supportive environments.

According to the ministry, the initiative places strong emphasis on keeping children within family structures rather than institutional care.

“The CT-OVC Programme aims to encourage fostering and retention of orphans and vulnerable children within their families and communities, while promoting their human capital development”, the ministry stated in a statement.

Apart from income support, the programme addresses key aspects of child development, including, seeking to improve school enrolment and retention, supporting smooth transitions between education levels, and enhancing access to basic health and nutrition services for vulnerable children.

The cash transfers are also aimed at strengthening household food security and reinforce child protection mechanisms at the community level, more so in in households that face extreme poverty and socio-economic shocks.

Carren Ageng’o, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Children Services, made the announcement, emphasizing on the government’s continued investment in social safety nets targeting vulnerable populations.

Operating under the broader Inua Jamii initiative, the CT-OVC Programme remains one of Kenyan government’s flagship social assistance schemes, providing critical financial relief to households caring for orphans and vulnerable children, as well as contributing to long-term poverty reduction and social stability.