Senate demands audit on cash for the elderly

A past Senate session. Senators have demanded a special audit on the billions of shillings given to elderly persons, orphans and severely disabled people in the last financial year. FILE PHOTO | DIANA NGILA |

What you need to know:

  • In the last financial year, the government gave Sh2.8 billion to poor elderly persons who are above 65 years.
  • Sh770 million was given to people with severe disabilities and Sh825 million to orphans and vulnerable children.
  • The CS said they had put aside Sh70 million to do an audit on the programme.
  • She said they would do a thorough investigation to remove fraudsters who might be benefitting from it.

Senators have demanded a special audit on the billions of shillings given to elderly persons, orphans and severely disabled people in the last financial year.

On Wednesday, the lawmakers said the funds were being misused by those who are in charge of disbursing it.

They asked acting Cabinet Secretary for Labour, Social Security and Services Raychelle Omamo to initiate a special audit to ascertain whether the money reached the more than 150,000 people targeted.

The CS appeared before the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare on Wednesday to respond to concerns raised by the lawmakers.

In the last financial year, the government gave Sh2.8 billion to poor elderly persons who are above 65 years.

A total of Sh770 million was given to people with severe disabilities and Sh825 million to orphans and vulnerable children.

The money is meant to support their welfare and beneficiaries normally get Sh2,000 every month.

The committee, chaired by Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo (ODM) and sitting in the Senate Chambers, invited other lawmakers to question the CS on what the ministry was doing to ensure transparency and accountability in the distribution of the funds.

TRULY IN NEED

“It is a very noble programme that demonstrates that we care for the vulnerable and less fortunate, but it needs to be restructured so that those who are truly in need benefit.

“The ministry should do an audit to help clear (the) concerns raised,” said Kisii Senator Christopher Obure (ODM).

They said they had been informed about favouritism and misuse of the funds, urging Ms Omamo to act firmly to avert the collapse of the programme.

“There should be an audit of this programme to ascertain who benefits. The funds could also be devolved so that it reaches many people,” said Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr (Wiper).

The CS said the ministry had put aside Sh70 million to do an audit on the programme.

She said a thorough investigation would be conducted to remove fraudsters who might be benefitting from it.

“We will go to all the wards and constituencies to find out if the money got to the people who have been properly identified and who deserve to benefit from the funds,” she told the committee.

However, senators said the ministry should think of overhauling the social welfare programme and put fool-proof structures to manage it.

“This is a very noble project and we appreciate it, but it is unfortunately the most abused in the whole republic.

“The selection process is not equitable at all. We would like to know how beneficiaries were picked,” said Kitui Senator David Musila (Wiper).