Hundreds of elderly persons in Embu turned up at various centers to enlist for the Inua Jamii Cash Transfer Programme that kicked off today.
Long queues characterized the first day of the fresh registration as hundreds of senior citizens, persons living with disability and those from vulnerable households turned up to enroll for the social protection program.
In Embu West Sub-county where the exercise commenced at Talent Academy Hall, over a thousand hopefuls had turned as early as 8am according to Acting Deputy Commissioner Lucy Towett.
She announced that the exercise will be decentralized from tomorrow to allow the target population register in their localities to save them from the trouble of having to travel long distances.
“Each of the 15 locations in the sub-county will have its day to ensure that no eligible person was left behind in this exercise,” she said.
Some of those who had turned up hailed the initiative as a good step in alleviating their daily struggles as they are no longer able to fend for themselves owing to their advanced age.
They however called on the government to consider increasing the allocation to make it commensurate with the prevailing tough economic times.
“The Sh2, 000 we have been getting is hardly enough to last us a whole month given the high food prices,” said resident Catherine Muriithi.
Her sentiment was echoed by Joseph Njiru, 81, who said the amount could only buy a handful items that can only take them a few weeks.
By Samuel Waititu
