By A, KNA
The Government through the State Department for Public Investment and Asset Management has launched Unclaimed Financial Asset Authority (UFAA), at the Machakos Huduma centre help desk as Sh3 billion assets lay unclaimed, PS Odede has said.
Principal Secretary for Public Investment and Asset Management Cyrill Odede, who spoke at the Machakos Huduma centre during the launch, said that UFAA has Ksh 3B of Unclaimed assets which has pushed them to officially open a help desk for unclaimed assets in all the 59 Huduma centres in Kenya.
Odede said the aim was to bring the UFAA services close to the people especially those in the grassroots and at the bottom of the pyramid, which will reduce the need for travelling long distances to follow up on unclaimed assets.
“Our task is to launch the UFAA help desk in Huduma centres to enable wananchi easy access in claiming assets left behind by their relatives and urging them to come forward which aligns with the BETA,” said PS Odede.
Additionally, he said they are currently doing E-GP sensitization for all suppliers in the country so that those at the Bottom of the pyramid, especially the People with Disability (PWD) can access goods and services being offered by all State departments and County governments and also do business with the government.
Principal Secretary Public Service and Human Capital Dr.Jane Imbunya who was present during the launch reiterated that the purpose of the launch is to ensure it reaches all Kenyans who lost their loved ones who had no will nor do not know what properties they left behind, can now claim their assets at any Huduma centre.
She said Huduma centre aims to bring services closer to people in mashinani and called on all the State departments and Agencies to bring their services to Huduma in efforts to modernize public service and cut down on cost of accessing government services.
“This is a great milestone for Kenyans and as one comes to the UFAA help desk in Huduma, you are only required to give out the name or ID number and a search is done and the staff will also inform you what you are owed and the process to claim it,” said PS Imbunya.
CEO Huduma Kenya Secretariat Benjamin Chilumo on his part hailed the government while noting that it’s not just UFAA launch in Huduma but demonstration of government commitment to citizen centred service delivery,Inter Agency collaboration and a promise that services must be efficient and closer to Kenyans.
Chilumo noted that launching services at Huduma helps in cost efficiency as it integrates service delivery for Kenyans under one roof and Huduma staff are trained professionally to provide uniform service with equality and inclusion of marginalized communities.