A two-month study aimed at assessing the barriers that the elderly encounter in accessing social protection programmes offered by the government is scheduled to kick off on September 1, 2024.
The study, to be undertaken by the non-governmental organisation Help-age International in collaboration with the Kenya Society for People Living with HIV and AIDS (KESPA), will target various social protection programmes such as the Inua Jamii, Pensions, and the National Social Security Fund.
Speaking during the study entry meeting at the Bar Ogong’o chief’s camp in the South Alego location, KESPA programmes officer Daniel Odipo said they will be targeting elderly persons from the age of 60 years and above.
He said that research assistants will visit homes to conduct interviews with the targeted group, which includes persons with disabilities, to get first-hand information on the challenges they face.
“The report of the study will be shared with relevant government ministries and departments to help them improve on the various social protection services,” said Odipo.
The social development officer in charge of the Inua Jamii programme in Siaya Sub-county, James Ochieng’ said similar studies will be conducted in Kilifi, Embu, and Kisii counties.
The elder persons, led by Benta Atieno, said they have been encountering numerous challenges in accessing various social protection services.
Among their major complaints, said Atieno, was the long distances that they have to travel to access the cash transfer funds.
Atieno further called on the government to consider increasing the monthly stipend from the current Sh2,000, which she said was not enough to cater for their needs.
By Philip Onyango
