State sets up Sh1,500 monthly kitty for elderly

Business

By Ramadhan Rajab

More than one million aged people will benefit from a Government stipend in the Sh550 million programme, Gender Minister Esther Murugi has announced.

The first phase of the special programme targets 33,000 persons above the age of 65 in 44 districts countrywide where every household will receive Sh1,500 monthly.

Kenya becomes the fourth country in Africa to have a special stipend for its senior citizens after Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa.

"The cash will address some of the needs of the vulnerable older persons in society, strengthening their capacities to improve their livelihood by reducing integrated poverty through sustainable social protection mechanisms," said Ms Murugi during the launch in Mwala, yesterday.

Method of transfer

Some 750 elderly persons each from selected districts will form the first batch of beneficiaries.

The minister said the method of transfer of the cash would depend on the region, and will be through mobile phone transfers, post office or by electronic card.

Once a member has been enrolled to the programme, Murugi explained, he or she can exit only upon death, if the economic livelihood of the household improves, willing withdrawal, or if a household gives false information to enable him qualify for the programme.

Health and nutrition

She said baseline pilot programmes in the last two years in Nyando, Busia and Thika districts had succeeded.

"The scheme was a success, and the evidence from those districts indicate improved livelihoods in households under the cash transfer programme. With significant improvement realised in areas of health and nutrition, school retention, evolvement of local markets, food security, improved income and investments," she said.

Murugi added: "Therefore, the sum total in investing the monthly cash transfers to the older persons will indeed break the intergenerational poverty that affects poor and vulnerable households."

But a lobby group working for the elderly persons, HelpAge Kenya (HAK), although happy with the stipend, said it should be scaled up to reach all vulnerable old persons’ households.

"Apart from targeting all older persons, the amount should be increased to meet the skyrocketing costs of living," HAK CEO Gerald Mwangi told The Standard on telephone.

Dr James Nyikal, the ministry’s PS, said the programme will empower the older persons economically hence making them even more productive.

Priority districts

EASTERN: Mwala, Isiolo, Mwingi, Moyale

WESTERN: Teso, Butere, Busia, Mt Elgon

Nyanza: Bondo, Suba, Gucha, Migori, Siaya, Kisii Central

COAST: Kilifi, Mombasa, Kwale Taita Taveta

RIFT VALLEY: West Pokot, Samburu central, Turkana, Bomet Baringo

CENTRAL: Murang’a South and North, Thika, Nyeri

NAIROBI: Lang’ata and Starehe

NEP: Wajir, Mandera, Garisa

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