Elderly persons in Kitui County have received two months’ stipend under the cash transfer programme of Sh 128 million to cushion them as the world grapples with Covid-19 ravages.
The government is committed to support older persons through the provision of monthly stipends to enable them access quality healthcare, food and shelter, Kitui County Deputy Social Development Officer Arthanus Mutuku has said.
Speaking to KNA on Tuesday in Kitui, Mutuku said that over 30, 000 older persons in the county receive a monthly stipend of Sh 2, 000 each.
“We encourage family members to enroll persons aged 65 years and above into this social protection programme. There is need to ensure the elderly enjoy there sunset years,” said Mutuku.
He lamented that it is pity to allow the elderly persons wallow in abject poverty oblivious of government support and challenged community members to enlist them into the programme.
The Social Development officer observed that the enrollment is a continuous process as older persons turn 65 years.
“We have also tightened the noose on rogue caregivers. We have replaced them with those who are responsible under the guidance of the beneficiaries,” disclosed Mutuku.
On the same score, the official called on caregivers to embrace collective responsibility and ensure the elderly persons are taken care of well.
Commenting on how the monthly stipends have turned round lives of the elderly, Mutuku noted that majority of them apart from buying food, they buy mattresses and blankets.
“It melts the heart when you see elderly persons bubbling with energy. The stipends give them the necessary energy to cope with the vagaries of changing climate,” he added.
Mutuku said that the elderly enjoy good health since they can afford medicine to manage age old illnesses such as diabetes.
By Yobesh Onwong’a
