Elderly woman left home to pick her “pesa ya wazee” never to return

Eunice Anyango put the old woman on a boda boda home but she never arrived. [Photo: Phillip Orwa]

Kisumu, Kenya: The introduction of a cash transfer programme for the elderly has been regarded as a blessing for many. But for the family of Margaret Ong’ayo, 78, the mere mention of the words “pesa ya wazee” (money for the elderly) pierces their hearts sharply because it reminds them of the increasing number of days since their matriarch disappeared.

Margaret left her house in April last year, excited because it was ‘that time of the month’ when all the elderly headed for banks near their homes to collect money disbursed by the Government. But since then, no one has set eyes on her.