Beneficiaries of the “Inua Jamii” initiative that seeks to improve the welfare of old age people have called for a decentralised form of disbursement of the funds with fewer inconveniences.
The initiative which was launched more than three years ago, giving out monthly stipends of Sh2,000 to every senior citizen above 65 years, has now been marred by inconveniences to the beneficiaries.
A spot check outside Kenya Commercial Bank on Thursday revealed the lengthy process the aged have to go through to access the fund.
Initially, the aged from Kikuyu sub-county were collecting the money at Posta Building, which was more convenient to them.
“I have been collecting the money through there (Posta) where we could find a place to rest before our requests are processed. Now we have to queue for hours at the bank and as you can see, I am old and I cannot stand for long,” narrated Hannah Njambi, 69.
Tens of old men and women, some looking worn out due to long hours of standing up to six hours, pleaded with the management of the initiative to devise alternative plans to disburse the funds to them.
"I would prefer to collect the money at the chief’s office which will reduce the number of persons collecting money from the same station," said 71-year-old John Gichanga, who had to wait for hours outside the bank.
The government, however, faces the task of sealing loopholes to curb corruption that might come with the decentralisation plans.
Some of the beneficiaries have been queuing at the bank for two days now not sure of when they will be served.
The government spends an estimated Sh1 billion shillings per month for this initiative.