Long queues and crowding have been witnessed in Murang’a banking halls as beneficiaries of Inua Jamii programme waited to receive their monthly stipends.
The aged listed to receive their monthly allowances from the government, have been waiting for long hours at their respective banks within Murang’a town, as they came to terms with the slow payment process.
A stop check by KNA in one of the local banks on Thursday , established that capturing of biometric details of some of the beneficiaries took a lot of time as their fingerprints had faded with time, further adding miseries to the already fatigued senior citizens.
One of the bank managers who sought anonymity said despite the challenge, bank tellers are trying to hasten the process considering health complications of some elderly people.
“We are trying to hasten the process to ensure elderly people don’t spend a lot of time queuing. Some have health complications and we have to be considerate as we serve them,” added the bank manager.
Beginning this month, the government released Sh.9 billion for the elderly cash transfer to cover up for a six month period, in which the exercise had been put on hold to enable the beneficiaries open individual bank accounts.
The County Social Services Director (CSSD), Stephen Mugo said the beneficiaries should consider getting their money from bank agents, near their home areas.
He argued that some beneficiaries are scared that their money can get lost in the hands of agents, forcing them to travel for long distance so as to access banking halls.
“The ministry has managed to register all the beneficiaries with respective banks and this has made payment of the funds easier, as they can use their ATM cards to get their money even from agents,” noted Mugo.
In Murang’a county, the director disclosed that there were 40,880 beneficiaries aged 70 years and above, while 469 persons living with severe disabilities have been put on the programme and are expected to receive their pay henceforth.
“All the Inua Jamii beneficiaries are currently expected to receive a total of Sh.12,000 to cover for six months as they received their last payment in August last year,” said Mugo.
He added that the ongoing payment process will have a grace period of six months, while urging the beneficiaries to avoid crowding the banks.
The CSSD said the government is also working out modalities to be paying the allowances after every two months, so as to avoid unnecessary delay which has made many of beneficiaries suffer.
By Leah Mumbi/Bernard Munyao
