Labour and Social Protection ministry is set to launch a Social Assistance Fund (SAF) to cater for the needs of the vulnerable people in the society. 

Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui said SAF will allow philanthropists, corporates and well wishers to contribute money towards Social Assistance Programmes like Inua Jamii to enable the ministry reach more beneficiaries. 

Speaking at a Kericho hotel during the launch of Finlays Community Trust, he the CS said the  ministry is working on the Social Assistance Bill that will pave the way for the launch Social Assistance Fund (SAF) before the end of this year. 

Occupational diseases

The CS said the ministry currently has a budget of Sh30 billion to support 1.094 million elderly people, vulnerable children and People with disabilities across the country against Sh35 billion to cover all the beneficiaries.

“The government is facing financial challenges to support  all the vulnerable people in the community.

So our intention is to have more funds  to put smile on faces of those yet to be supported,” he  added. 

At the same time, Chelugui disclosed that his ministry plans to establish Occupational Disease Fund for workers in the agricultural sector aimed at compensating them incase they fall sick or die in the line of duty.

The CS explained that workers in agriculture sector and particularly the plantation sector face many safety and health challenges among them occupational diseases.

 Finlay’s Community Trust is an initiative of James Finlays (Kenya),  an entity charged with the responsibility of working with the community in identifying their development needs.

The trust, which is funded by the company will be under the able leadership of Catholic Diocese of Kericho  Bishop, Alfred Rotich.

Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony said while his administration appreciates mechanisation in the tea sector, it was equally important for the multinational companies to ensure that employees, who have lost jobs in the mechanisation process  are transferred to other productive sections.