Posta Corporation of Kenya has rolled out a cash transfer programme to pay Ksh2000 each month for five months to the elderly in the country.
Dubbed the Older Persons Cash Transfer Programme Payment System, the programme is set to benefit 105,000 elderly persons through a bi-monthly cash stipend for basic upkeep. The Older Persons Cash Transfer (OPCT) first began in 2007 under the Rapid Response Initiative (RRI) as a programme funded by the Government of Kenya to provide a bi-monthly stipend to elderly, disabled as well as orphaned persons to cater for Kenya’s most poor and vulnerable communities which Postal Corporation of Kenya is the payment agent.
Postmaster General Dr. Enock Kinara said,“POSTA recognises the distinguished role provided by the government as the appointed payment agent for this cash transfer programme, and shall remain committed to providing Kenya’s elderly with the necessary funds to provide for their basic requirements.”
The cash transfers, to be picked in person at POSTA pay points across the country aim to help elderly citizens and other vulnerable persons to meet their basic needs are provided for. Emphasising all respective pay points will be ready to receive all registered persons from Thursday 24th around the country, with the payment system running for 10 working days.
Though there are fears that the money might end up in wrong hands, Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Security Services Hon. Samwel Kazungu Kambi says that is not possible.
“We as the government will not tolerate the misuse of any funds, because you and I lose out as citizens. Kenya cannot move forward with the terrorism of corruption, let us all agree to work against corruption,” said Mr Kambi. “Today we have disbursed Ksh1billion to directly help elderly persons put food on the table and meet the basic necessities of life,” he said.
Others in attendance were PS Labour and Social Security Services Mr. Ali Noor Ismail, MP of Starehe Hon. Maina Kamanda and immediate former MP Ferdinand Waititu who participated in the handing out of the day’s cash allocation at Ksh 3million to the identified elderly and disabled residents of Mathare. Overall, Nairobi County has registered 4,690 new beneficiaries with a total allocation of Ksh46, 900,000.