The elderly in Igembe Central and South Sub-counties have a reason to smile after the government revealed plans to issue them with smart cards to facilitate their access to cash stipends given after every two months.
Addressing the media in his office in Maua town on Saturday, the Igembe South Sub-county Director of Social Services (DSS), Francis Mwangi ,who also oversees Igembe Central Sub-county said the smart cards will enable the aged access their cash transfers without having to queue at the post office as has been the trend.
“The aged will be able to draw their funds from any Visa ATM machines wherever they are without having to travel to the post offices as has been happening in the past,” stressed Mwangi.
The DSS, however disclosed that the elderly will be expected to withdraw their money within the financial year that it is released failure to which the smart card will be retrieved and the service cancelled.
He said the initiative has been occasioned by complaints by some elderly people that they were being subjected to cumbersome processes in order to receive their dues with some being mistreated by officers in his department.
Mwangi further called on relatives and the community at large to supplement government efforts to help the aged lead decent lives.
“You cannot leave the elderly at the mercy of the government alone yet they educated many to get well-paying jobs and others succeed in different spheres of life while they were strong,” added the Social Services boss.
By Kamanja Maeria
