The Taita Taveta county assembly has passed a bill to allow the elderly to receive financial assistance from the county government.
The assembly passed the Taita Taveta Older Persons Act, 2020 to protect the elderly and vulnerable people in the region.
The older persons will be getting not less than Sh1,000 per month. Those who will benefit will be 65 years and above.
The bill seeks to establish a framework to empower, protect and ensure maintenance of empowerment and protection of older persons and the maintenance of their well-being, to alleviate poverty and reduce economic vulnerability.
Gender and Culture chairperson Martha Kenio said the bill will help promote the rights of the elderly as enshrined in the Constitution.
It shall further prevent the abuse of older persons in society.
“The county government shall establish and implement community-based programmes for the care and protection of older persons residing within the region," Kenio said.
She said every older person has the right to receive reasonable care, assistance and protection from their family and the state.
The bill, she said, establishes grants that will be disbursed to eligible older persons as it will be prescribed by the county executive in charge of social welfare and development.
Kenio said for a long time older people in the county, particularly those who are unable to care for themselves, have often been neglected and are unable to live decent lives.
“We are aiming at taming the habit of neglecting the older people. Most of them are living in squalor while the government is putting no effort to help and protect them,” the nominated ward rep said.
Mwatate MCA Abednego Mwajala, who is also a member of the committee, said the elderly shall benefit from the grant after attaining the age of 65.
A beneficiary should have no ascertainable means of support or income and should not be a beneficiary of any other programme with similar benefits.
“Applications for the older persons grant shall be submitted to the office of the CEC, who shall designate an office to receive and process applications for older persons grant,” he said.
Mwajala said those convicted of violation of the Act shall be liable to a fine not exceeding Sh1 million, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both.
The MCA said that many elderly people have been adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic since their dependents lost jobs as a result of the virus.
Edited by A.N
