Ministry of Labour and Social Protection Embarks on Vetting Ministerial Performance Contracts for FY 2024/2025
Ministry of Labour and Social Protection Embarks on Vetting Ministerial Performance Contracts for FY 2024/2025
The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, in collaboration with the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Performance, and Delivery Management, has launched an exercise to vet ministerial performance contract commitments for the 2024/2025 financial year. The event was attended by key government officials, including Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Dr. Alfred Mutua and Deputy Chief of Staff Eliud Owalo.
During the event, Dr. Mutua highlighted several key achievements under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). Among these milestones was the successful training of over 9,000 youth for online jobs in 2024, a significant increase from 752 youth trained in 2022. This initiative aligns with the government's efforts to enhance digital employment opportunities for young people.
In the labour migration sector, the ministry secured six new bilateral labour agreements with the UK, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Germany, and Austria. As a result, over 200,000 Kenyans have been placed in jobs abroad, representing an impressive 1,280% increase.
Dr. Mutua also noted the transformation of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), which saw monthly contributions rise from KSh 1.4 billion to KSh 65 billion. Furthermore, the processing time for benefits has been significantly reduced from an average of 82 days to just 10 days.
On social protection, the number of older persons receiving cash transfers under the Inua Jamii program has increased by 66%, from 733,000 in 2022 to 1.215 million in 2024. Dr. Mutua announced that by the end of the year, the process would be digitized, enabling older persons to receive their stipends via mobile phones.
Looking forward, the Ministry of Labour is committed to expanding the Inua Jamii program by increasing the number of vulnerable persons receiving state assistance by at least 50%. Additionally, the ministry plans to roll out a nutrition-sensitive cash transfer program, targeting 40,500 beneficiaries across 11 counties in the current financial year. Furthermore, the ministry is set to operationalize street family rehabilitation county chapters in 12 counties and finalize the Older Persons Bill 2024 as well as the National Policy for Persons with Disabilities.
The performance contracts for CS Mutua and his officers will be based on the commitments agreed upon during the event. Also present were Mercy Wanjau, Secretary to the Cabinet; and Principal Secretaries Shadrack Mwadime and Joseph Motari of the State Departments of Labour and Social Protection, respectively.