There is not enough money for the elderly cash transfer scheme, after MPs failed to increase the budget in the recent Supplementary Estimates II for 2024/2025.

Despite President William Ruto’s directive to prioritise elderly payments before salaries, financial constraints made this impossible, said State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs Principal Secretary Joseph Motaru.

The department, he said, had resorted to invoking Article 223 of the Constitution, which permits government spending without prior appropriation under specific circumstances. “The directive is that we make cash transfers before paying salaries. Unfortunately, due to budgetary challenges, I’m only set to make the disbursements today under the provisions of Article 223, because there’s no budget.”

Continue registering the elderly

The PS also clarified that current policy guidelines restrict cash transfers to citizens aged 70 and above, not 65 as directed by the House. Even within the 70+ category, budgetary limitations prevent coverage of all potential beneficiaries.

Despite these challenges, the Committee on Implementation, chaired by Budalangi MP Raphael Wanjala, instructed Motaru to continue registering elderly persons for the Inua Jamii Senior Citizens’ Scheme, as previously resolved by the House.

“Our scope revolves around ensuring House resolutions are implemented. I want to direct that you embark on registration, then we shall invite you together with the National Treasury in four weeks’ time to review the matter,” Wanjala said.

MPs emphasised that with Kenya’s life expectancy at about 66 years, lowering the eligibility age to 65 would be prudent.

Beneficiary replacements

Legislators also questioned how the department handles replacements for beneficiaries who exit the system through natural attrition and how it assists those without proper identification documents.

Motaru responded that through World Bank support, the department had established an Enhanced Single Registry with mechanisms to replace those exiting the system with next-in-line candidates.

Women Representatives Zamzam Mohammed (Mombasa) and Lilian Siyoi (Trans Nzoia) raised concerns about access for disabled and elderly individuals unable to reach registration centres, calling for home visits to ensure inclusion.

Motaru acknowledged discriminatory profiling concerns, noting that the recently passed Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2023 would eliminate such profiling once enacted.

The programme supports an estimated 1,251,721 beneficiaries nationwide.