KABUCHAI MP SEEKS TO REVIEW INUA JAMII AGE LOWERED TO SIXTY YEARS

Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga is pushing for a review of the eligibility age for the enrolment of older members of society to the INUA Jamii cash transfer programme.

Currently the 70 years is the eligibility requirement but the MP wants this lowered to 60 years.

“Capping the eligibility for enrolment to the Inua Jamii Programme at the age of 70 is discriminatory to the older members of society and negates the spirit of the Constitution entitling support to older members of the society,” Mr Kalasinga says in a motion before the National Assembly.

“Therefore, this House urges the national government, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, to revise the age requirement for eligibility of elderly members to be enrolled to the programme.”

Article 260 of the constitution defines an older member of society as one who has attained the age of 60.

Article 57 of the constitution provides that the State shall take measures to secure the rights of older persons to live in dignity and to receive reasonable care and assistance from the State.

To actualize the provisions of this Article, the government rolled out the Inua Jamii Cash Transfer Programme in 2015 to provide regular and predictable cash transfers to older persons aged 70 and above and who are not in receipt of a civil service pension.

The programme has recorded success specifically in alleviating poverty and suffering among older members of the society since its inception.

The government intends to progressively net more vulnerable and under-privileged members of the society with a target of reaching 2.5 million beneficiaries in the next three years.

The MP’s push comes as the government plans to streamline the programme to increase its coverage and accountability.

Recently Social Security and Protection Principal Secretary Joseph Motari said that the expansion is in line with the Kenya Kwanza manifesto that seeks to improve the lot of vulnerable “senior citizens” and persons with disabilities.

“We wish to assure the beneficiaries of the Inua Jamii programme that the government will disburse their money at the appropriate time to cushion the vulnerable and elderly persons in the society against poverty,” said PS Motari.

The PS, however, urged the beneficiaries countrywide to use the stipends wisely in order to better their lives.

Motari said that as part of enhancing efficiency, the six banks that have been contracted to pay the beneficiaries have committed to subcontract bank agents across the wards and sub counties to disburse the funds to the beneficiaries.

This he said will save the beneficiaries from traveling long distances that come with attendant costs, fatigue and inconveniences.

The PS urged all eligible beneficiaries of the programme to register with the relevant officers at the sub-county levels noting that registration of beneficiaries is a continuous process.

Motari said the government was keen to have a single registry to address duplication of payment to beneficiaries.