A group of elderly people from Mai Maahiu in Naivasha have formed a chama to take care of their interests and address the challenges facing them.
John Kamau, chairman of Mai Maahiu Elderly Association said the idea was borne out of the challenges they were undergoing.
“Most aged men are abandoned by their families and this made us to come together and form this chama,” said Kamau.
He said that the association has been their hope as nobody has shown interest in their plight.
“The chama takes care of our members by addressing some of the pressing issues we face in our daily lives,” noted the chairman.
He noted that a number of elderly people have been forsaken by their immediate families and are suffering silently.
“It’s shocking to see a number of elderly have been abandoned by their families and are subjected to abject poverty,” said Kamau .
The group has 460 members aged between 60 and 100 years who make a monthly contribution of Sh40 to cater for emergencies.
The meager money takes care of their medical expenses or other emergencies that may arise, said Kamau .
He said that through the chama, they have acquired a piece of land and have planted 4,000 trees to improve their livelihood.
“The trees are a source of wealth. We also make traditional chairs, do beading and other art work which we sell to tourists and this makes it possible to make ends meet,” stated the chairman.
Speaking Thursday at Maa Mahiu Ward, Naivasha Sub-County at a meeting with members of the association, Kamau urged the society to cherish the interests of the elderly.