Elderly people in Kwale miss out on cash over fingerprints

Elderly people follow during the launch of Inua Jamii cash transfer programme in Nyeri in 2017. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The beneficiaries asked the government to consider increasing the stipend from Sh2,000 to Sh4,000 per month.
  • They spoke on Saturday while presenting their grievances to the National Assembly Committee on Labour.

  • Bura MP Ali Wario who is also the chairman of the committee said they will compile a report based on their findings.

Beneficiaries of the monthly cash transfer funds for the elderly in Kwale County have complained after banks denied payments due to worn-out fingerprints which they attribute to the effects of ageing.

The elders protested the move and urged banking agents contracted to disburse the cash to devise alternative ways of authenticating the beneficiaries instead of frustrating them over defaced fingerprints.

They spoke on Saturday while presenting their grievances to the National Assembly Committee on Labour and Social Welfare.

INUA JAMII

The committee is on a tour of Coast counties to assess the progress of the Inua Jamii cash transfer programme.

Principal Secretary for Social Protection Susan Mochache said disbursement of the money will be done through the beneficiaries’ individual bank accounts from October this year to avert the hitches being experienced now.

"The government is still working towards streamlining the programme to ensure it positively impacts on its targeted people," she said.

Bura MP Ali Wario who is also the chairman of the committee said they will compile a report based on their findings from the tour of the counties with a view to ensuring the programme is improved to effectively meet the needs of the vulnerable groups in the society.

ASSESS IMPACT

“The purpose of this tour is to assess the impact the initiative has made on targeted groups, identify gaps and possible solutions to improve it,” said Mr Wario.

The elders enumerated the benefits of the social protection fund and thanked the government for introducing it.

However, they asked the government to consider increasing the stipend from Sh2,000 to Sh4,000 per month citing the escalating cost of living.

“We really appreciate the government support but we urge it to consider paying us more because what we are currently getting is too little to adequately meet all our needs,” said 72-year-old Salim Mwariko.