Thika MP Alice Ng’ang’a proposes review of cash transfer fund

Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a is proposing an increment of the Inua Jamii Cash Transfer program for older persons from Sh 2,100 to Sh 3,500 monthly.

The legislator who is the chairperson of the parliamentary social protection committee said the current disbursements were not commensurate with the prevailing economic situation and inflation rates.

“Since the fund was established in 2017 in the spirit of a dollar a day when the US dollar was Sh 70, the situation has since changed with the dollar now exchanging at nearly Sh 130,” Ng’ang’a said.

Ng’ang’a said their purchasing power has been eroded by inflation and the elderly persons could hardly afford to buy medicine.

She was speaking while distributing food to hungry residents of the Community, Ofafa and Starehe estates in the constituency. The food was donated by Mjengo Ltd, a local distribution firm.

The MP also said that her committee will initiate efforts to resume the enrolment of more beneficiaries into the program, noting that in the last six years more people have attained the age of 70.

She revealed there was a move to overhaul the modalities of disbursement, noting that some of the recipients who had died still continued to be in the program, unlawfully.

“We also intend to streamline the cash transfer program at the grassroots level because there have been cases where undeserving people end up receiving the money and not the elderly, ” Ng’ang’a said adding that the relevant Cabinet Secretaries have been notified to bring the matter to Parliament.

The lawmaker said the hunger situation in Thika was serious contrary to what people assume and appealed to companies and other donors to chip in and feed the hungry.

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