More Than 400,000 Kenyans 70 Years and Older Receive Sh1.67 Billion Monthly Stipends from Gov't

Senior citizens aged 70 and above have received Sh1.67 billion from the government under the cash transfer programme launched by President Kenyatta last week.

More than 400,000 elderly Kenyans who opened their bank accounts last month are set to benefit from the kitty, with each of them receiving Sh4, 000 for months of January and February.

 State Department of Social Protection, Pensions and Senior Citizens said further disbursements will be made to cover the rest of the months until June from the Sh6.5 billion allocated to the programme in this financial year’s budget.

In total, 523,129 senior citizens who registered under the programme last year will receive the cash in their bank accounts.

“This programme will ensure that our senior citizens get a Sh4,000 stipend (every two months) to live a dignified  life,” President Kenyatta said during the launch in Meru.

Last year, the Ministry of Labour,  through the State Department of Social Protection, Pensions and Senior Citizens Affairs, registered a total of 523,129 beneficiaries of the programme.