Take care of the elderly and vulnerable through viable social protection

The government should guard the kitty from selfish officers who have registered proxies to receive the money on their behalf. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Times are hard for majority of Kenyans and it must be harder for the elderly and most vulnerable families. Most poor families can hardly put a decent meal on the table. Therefore, last Wednesday's release of some Sh8.5 billion for the social protection programme 'Inua Jamii' is a huge relief for the more than one million beneficiaries.

Reeling from economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic that annihilated many businesses, the harsh effects of climate change that have killed food harvests for nearly four seasons and the resultant economic slow-down of the war in Ukraine, majority of the elderly persons have been hard it. After their children and sponsors lost jobs or income generating ventures, many of those aged 70 and above will rely heavily on the Inua Jamii programme.