Security concern as thieves steal Sh1.4 million for elders

Beneficiaries of Inua Jamii cash programme queue for cash outside a bank. [Photo: Courtesy]

A contracted Equity Bank agent has lost Sh1.4 million to thugs who allegedly broke into his car. The money was to pay the elderly aged over 70 under the Inua Jamii Cash Transfer Programme run by the Government.

According to Dominic Oyaya, the County Coordinator for Social Development, a vehicle belonging to the agent was allegedly broken into by suspects who made away with the money.

"The responsible bank had to call in another agent who paid the waiting beneficiaries and the process has been running smoothly after the isolated incident," Mr Oyaya told journalists at his office yesterday.

He said where agents fail to pay the beneficiaries, banks engaged by the national government to do the work would be held responsible.

"It is the banks and not the agents who entered into agreement with the Government to do the job, we shall go for the institutions' branch managers in case something goes bad," said the official.

Banks identified by the Government to implement the Inua Jamii cash transfer programme are Kenya Commercial Bank, Cooperative, Equity and Post bank.

However, the banks have sought the services of agents to reach the beneficiaries with ease.

"Using agents is a good idea because it reduces the distance covered by the elderly people to the banks. The policy requires paying points to be at least 6km away. Besides, it helps in spreading out paying points to avoid crowding at one spot, which can be a security danger," he said.

He urged the banks to ensure there was no congestion at pay points as crowding would attract thugs and put the lives of the beneficiaries at risk.

Oyaya said 70 per cent of the 45,000 beneficiaries have received their pay in the county. "Each one has been getting Sh12,000 because the disbursement was delayed for three months," said Oyaya.

He clarified that beneficiaries who are yet to open accounts will receive an accumulated stipend of Sh16,000 in May.

"We have also experienced cases where the biometric machine fails to recognise beneficiaries’ fingerprints, especially the elderly, however, we have instructed banks to address such cases," he added.

He said cases of cash hitch ought not to arise like was the case at a pay point in Shinyalu recently since the government had given money to the banks.

"The Government has even paid for the ledger fee, and beneficiaries should be given all their dues unless they wish to save with the bank," argued Oyaya.