Dear Mr. President, Don’t Take Away Inua Jamii Program

A country that doesn’t take care of its aged population doesn’t care about its history and its future. Our senior citizens are our very foundation.

Kenya has about 718,000 people aged 65 years and above. This was an increase from about 215,000 in 1972. Statistics show that 80 percent of them live in abject poverty.

To help senior citizens live a dignified life, not begging and walking around in poverty, the Inua Jamii Program was started. This was one of the best programs ever put in place by the Government of Kenya.

Under the program, each registered senior citizen from 70 years old and above was to receive at least 2,000 shillings monthly, paid bimonthly.

In the beginning, the program was great. More than 500,000 senior citizens found hope and a reason to live. Some received their pay after 2 months while others after 3 months.

As the days went by, the thieves in government found a way to steal from the poor old folks. They started bringing the cash after 6 to 8 months. For 8 months, they paid for 5 and looted for 3, for 6 months, they paid for 4 and looted for 2.

Even with the massive looting, the old folks remained thankful for the little they got, for it was better than being without anything. They remained happy.

Then, Mr. President, you came to power. You came to power through the Hustler narrative, one that was to favor the poor, including these senior citizens. Surprisingly, Inua Jamii Program stopped.

The old men and women who had gotten used to the little cash were left without warning. They went back into poverty and debt. The government has remained mute and they have no hope of ever knowing the truth.

So, Mr. President, not everything that your “brother” Uhuru Kenyatta started or sustained was bad. Some of the programs you found have people a life, hope, and power.

Can you please bring it back?

Related Content: Government Releases Over Kshs. 8b to Support Inua Jamii Program