The senior citizens in Kirinyaga County will soon have a safe haven once a modern home is operationalized at Ngurubani town come June this year .
The home, already put up by the Social Services Directorate at a cost of Sh47 million will start to admit the elderly who have no caregivers.
It will admit 45 such old persons whose relatives will be required to pay some minimal fee for the period of admission.
The government plans to build such homes in all the remaining 46 counties with the one in Kirinyaga being a pioneer one.
The homes are being established after research indicated that some elderly parents have been abandoned by their children who migrated to the urban centers.
It has also emerged some of these elderly people are normally abused hence lead miserable lives.
“These homes will be the best resort for the elderly since they will be provided the care they require and in such a conducive environment,” said Peter Ndambiri the Deputy Governor , Kirinyaga.
Ndambiri who visited the Home yesterday asked local residents to make full utilization of the facility and in their best interests.
The Director, Social Development and Head of Family Promotion and Social Welfare Lissel Mugoka said the facility in Mwea was a pilot one adding the same will be replicated in the remaining 46 counties.
Mogaka who had led a high-level delegation of staffers from his Directorate asked the local leadership to support the project whose success will improve the living conditions of the elderly from the area.
He said although some minimal fees will be payable to the institution the elderly will be receiving maximum care possible to make them comfortable in their sunset years.
Relatives of the boarding elderly will be allowed to visit them while each will be provided with a self-contained room at the facility.
The homes across the country will also serve as a rescue centre for the abandoned and abused senior citizens by their relatives who might be living far away or not interested in taking care of such aged parents.
by Irungu Mwangi.
