6 November 2009
editorial
The government plan to pay poor families a monthly stipend looks noble from a distance, but it but it calls for closure examination. The scheme, launched in Nairobi by Prime Minister Raila Odinga this week, may be well intentioned, but it raises critical concerns, which must be addressed for it to be effective.
Launching the scheme on Wednesday, Mr Odinga said 200,000 families would each receive Sh1,500 monthly, bringing the annual bill to Sh3.6 billion. This raises the first question: What criterion will be used to identify the deserving families?
On this, we are reminded about the attempt by the Government early this year to sell subsidised maize flour to the poor. Unscrupulous traders exploited the gesture to make profits at the expense of target groups.
This brings us to the second question: What measures has the Government taken to prevent the abuse of the scheme by both the beneficiaries and civil servants?
Here our fear is informed by the disturbing revelation by the Government that its officials have misappropriated Sh100 million set aside for the resettlement of families displaced by the post-election violence.
We retain the view that unless the Government seals all loopholes in the scheme, the cash is likely to end in the wrong pockets.
Then there is the question of dependence. Although the stipend may help to feed many mouths, there is the risk that it will promote a culture of dependence.
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