By John Kariuki
Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba has raised concerns over a new requirement for Inua Jamii beneficiaries, including the elderly and people living with disabilities, to pay Ksh 100 to Safaricom in order to register for their monthly government stipend.
Terming the move as absurd and exploitative, Wamuchomba criticized the demand, questioning why the most vulnerable members of society should be forced to pay a registration fee when they are only receiving Ksh 2,000 per month. She further pointed out that Safaricom would still deduct transaction fees for every payment made, adding an unnecessary financial burden on recipients.
"These elderly citizens are merely recipients of a meagre stipend meant to support their basic needs. Forcing them to pay to access their own money is insensitive. Safaricom, as a business, should take responsibility for registering them at their own cost and even consider providing them with free mobile phones as part of their corporate social responsibility," said Wamuchomba.
The legislator also questioned where the estimated Ksh 170 million—collected from approximately 1.7 million Inua Jamii beneficiaries—would go. She called on the government and Safaricom to clarify whether the funds would be directed to public revenue or private business interests.
"This is like trying to milk a cow whose teats have vanished. It is painful and unacceptable," she added.
Wamuchomba urged the relevant authorities to intervene and ensure that the elderly and people living with disabilities are not exploited. She emphasized that corporate entities benefiting from government social programs should be giving back to society rather than imposing extra charges on the most vulnerable.
Her remarks have sparked debate on the ethical implications of the registration fee, with many Kenyans echoing her sentiments and calling for the removal of the charge.
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