Chiefs and their assistants who misrepresent data regarding the vulnerable people who should benefit from the national government cash transfer to mitigate the adverse effects of Covid-19 risk being fired and prosecuted.
The Nyeri Central Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), Joseph Mwangi sounded the warning on Friday during a press briefing in Nyeri town.
Mwangi said that the government has pumped immense resources in various mitigation programmes to cushion Kenyans from the effects of the disease and alleviate their sufferings during these difficult times.
The region has 3,790 most deserving cases who are benefiting from cash transfer programme, with each receiving Sh.1, 000 on weekly basis.
“Chiefs found to have misrepresented information on these vulnerable people will be compelled to repay the money after which they will be sacked and prosecuted,” Mwangi asserted.
He said so far no cases had been reported adding that if it was something to do with an error of a telephone number it would be rectified.
The DCC said youths living in informal settlements like Majengo and Witemere would be engaged in the National Hygiene Programme and other projects to ensure they earned livelihood.
The administrator urged local carpenters to prepare to make desks for schools as the government has set funds to uplift their economic base during this time.
Elsewhere, in Mukurweini Sub-County, the area DCC, Thomas Nyoro has said that 305 people from Githi location have been misplaced by landslides following heavy downpour in the area.
Speaking in Mukurweini town, Nyoro said both levels of government have dispatched geologists to study the seismic forces in the area to find a permanent solution to the problem.
He said the displaced families might be re-located but that would be determined by the findings of the geologists.
And in Othaya Sub-County, the area DCC, Henry Ochako said no major challenges had been identified in the implementation of the cash transfer programme to the neediest cases.
Ochako said members of the Nyumba Kumi initiative were used to identify the beneficiaries, and the names were handed over to respective assistant chiefs for onward delivery to the Interior Ministry’s administrative hierarchy.
The three DCCs urged residents in their jurisdictions to adhere to the Ministry of Health directives to stop the spread of Coronavirus.
By Mwangi Gaitha
