Siaya’s elderly set to get Sh1,000 monthly stipend

At least 450 people aged 65 and above are set to benefit from the county's Sh1,000 monthly stipend.

Siaya County Executive for Cultural Services Pamela Akelo says the county government has allocated Sh5.4 million in the 2015-2016 financial year under the Social Protection Fund.

"The stipend aims at improving the livelihoods of the elderly and it will strictly benefit poor and most vulnerable persons who have not been benefiting from the national government's cash transfer," said Ms Akelo.

She said a secretariat has already been established to identify the potential beneficiaries and the stipend will also not benefit those who get support from their children or other relatives.

"Those who are in Government pension schemes will not benefit from the programme. We are going to take an inventory of the potential beneficiaries in all wards from this week," she said.

Consequently, Akello asked those who have attained the age of 65 to go to their respective ward offices and register.

She said they will pick at least two beneficiaries in each of the 30 electoral wards across the county.

Meanwhile, elderly persons have petitioned the county government to create a legal framework to support their rights as entrenched in the Constitution.

According to the petition which was presented to Governor Cornel Rasanga through the Director of Health Samwel Omondi, the older persons cited discrimination in the provision of health care services.

Health care

"We older persons from Siaya County wish to present to Your Excellency this petition in which we have highlighted the issues and challenges affecting older persons in Siaya and the proposed interventions by your government," read part of the petition.

While presenting the petition, George Were, a representative of the older persons, said the county has been lacking health care facilities that are closer to older persons.

"Most of the older persons are not able to access most of the available health facilities in the county because of the distance and the government's focus on providing health care to women and children," said Were, adding that they also lack safe and clean drinking water.

The senior citizens, at the same time, called on the government to push for affirmative action for older persons as well as establish a social protection fund for them.

Speaking to The Standard Monday, Dr Omondi said the county government is already setting up new health facilities that will ensure easy accessibility to health care services for all residents.

"These are our senior citizens and we should accord them the dignity and the respect that they deserve. We have a rehabilitation centre at the county referral hospital, which will be of great benefit to them," said Omondi.

"We are also going to draft special legislation that will recognise elderly persons in the county," he said.