Kazungu Kambi protests misuse of Sh5b meant for elderly

Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi has raised the alarm over the large amounts of money being paid to unscrupulous people from funds meant for the elderly.

Mr Kambi has consequently directed Members of Parliament, who are patrons to the fund, to take charge of the committees administering the kitty in constituencies by getting rid of officials embezzling funds.

He issued the directive on Wednesday in Seme constituency, Kisumu County, during this year's celebrations of the International Day of Older Persons.

Mr Kambi said the high level of corruption in disbursing the funds will scuttle the entire programme.

Under the programme, the government pays identified elderly persons Sh4,000 every two months. There are 210,000 households currently benefitting from the Sh5 billion kitty.

MPs have been entrusted to oversee committees that identify and administer the funds at the village level.

“Committees entrusted in the management of these funds must ensure that the right people are accorded the support through the funding,” said Mr Kambi.

ELIMINATE CHEATING

“The only way to clean up the mess in the programme at the moment is to ensure cheating is eliminated. Let every Kenyan who is 65 and above and eligible for the funds obtain them,” he added.

Mr Kambi also announced that the government would soon be disbursing the funds on a monthly basis.

“We are also pushing for a law that will compel all leaders to ensure that social protection is upheld. In this regard, the money for the elderly persons will now be given to them monthly,” he said.

Labour Principal Secretary Ali Ismail called on county executive members in charge of social services to assist in supervising the committees charged with managing the fund.

He proposed that the fund be increased to Sh13.7 billion in the next financial year pending parliamentary approval.

“The biggest problem is that many elders have not been reached,” he said.