The National Assembly Social Protection Committee is working on a bill that aims to increase the Inua Jamii Cash Transfer programme for the elderly from Sh2,100 to Sh3,500 monthly.
Committee Chair Alice Ng’ang’a said the current disbursements were not proportional to the country’s economic situation and that many elderly persons were still suffering despite receiving the disbursements.
The Thika Town MP said she hoped legislators will back her for the sake of helping the group lead better lives.
“We can say despite the funds having some impact on the lives of the elderly, they are not enough and thus need to be increased. We know most of them can hardly afford to buy medicine and food, ” said Ng’ang’a.
She was speaking while distributing foodstuffs to residents of Community, Ofafa and Starehe estates in the area.
The MP also revealed plans to embark on a programme to enroll more beneficiaries noting that in the last six years, more people have attained the age of 70.
“The government also will overhaul the modalities of disbursement, to remove beneficiaries who died and still are on the programme and recruit new members,” she added.
According to a senate report that was published last year, at least 250,000 people aged 70 years and above have been missing out on the government’s social welfare fund since August 2017.
Others have never been paid due to a mismatch of their details in the integrated population registration system and double registration.
“These are the gaps that the planned exercise will seek to address so that every elderly person aged 70 years and above benefit from the programme,” said the MP.
On the hunger situation in the constituency, the legislator said many people are still sleeping hungry and called on well-wishers to continue with their contributions.
By Muoki Charles
