Over 21, 000 elderly persons in Homa Bay County who have been benefiting from the government cash transfer program dubbed “InuaJamii” are now crying foul over the delay of the monthly stipend of Sh2, 000 which has accumulated for the last six months.
The government started Inua Jamii programme to improve the living standards of the elderly persons aged 70 years and above in the country, where each person receive Sh2, 000 monthly stipend.
The senior citizens in Homa Bay County claimed that they were last paid their monthly stipend in August 2018 and up to date, they have not received any penny from the government into their respective bank accounts.
Mzee Michael Ayuka Abongo who hails from Manga village in Homa Bay Town constituency laments that they have gone for six months without receiving the stipend and the government has not given reasons surrounding the delay.
He complains that they have been traveling for long distances from their respective homes to banks for all the period and return home without cash.
The same sentiment were also echoed by Mzee Joel Nyangol from lower Kodhoch in Kabondo Kasipul constituency, who says that they were currently facing financial constrains and were no longer able to meet their family’s basic needs due to the delay of their payments.
The elderly persons also claim that most of them who seeks medical attention in various health facilities in the county with the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) issued to them by the government were being turned away since monthly subscription has not been remitted.
However, the County Director for Social Protection and Services Charles Onyancha told KNA that the delays come as a result of the migration and the new registration exercise for beneficiaries which was concluded in February this year.
He says that the government is doing its best and the beneficiaries would receive all their arrears (6 consecutive payment cycles) which is a total of Sh12, 000 each before the end of March.
By Martin Shikuku and Davis Langat
