103-year-old widow delisted from Older Persons Cash Transfer system as records indicate she’s dead

By , K24 Digital
On Thu, 2 Dec, 2021 18:43 | 2 mins read
Kemunto Beta Obare, a 103-year-old widow from Cherangany Constituency, Trans Nzoia County.PHOTO/COURTESY.

Kemunto Beta Obare, a 103-year-old woman in Mwangaza area of Cherangany constituency, Trans Nzoia county is a disturbed woman.

This is after she was delisted from the list of beneficiaries of Older Persons Cash Transfer on grounds that she is deceased.

Speaking exclusively to K24 Digital, Kemunto, a widow, said she was receiving her monthly token of KSh 2,000 until 2015 when hell broke loose leaving her broke and unable to meet her basic needs.

Kemunto said that upon enquiry, she was told that she has not been receiving her money because she was delisted as a beneficiary since the records in the social services indicate that she is dead.

"I got concerned why I was not getting my money and my daughter took me to find out the reasons why I was being denied my monthly stipend. I was shocked to learn that the government records indicate that I am dead, is it true I am dead? You can see I am alive" Kemunto said.

Sitting outside her daughter's house, she urged the government to investigate the matter and deal with people behind the error that has cost her over Ksh 140,000.

"This situation besides denying me my basic needs, it has also denied peace of mind. I therefore ask the government to investigate who did this and make them responsible so that I can enjoy my old age" she added.

Her daughter Elmeda Beta said she has been struggling with her mother expecting that the situation could get better but as days pass by, their hopes are diminishing.

"We have sought for answers from the relevant offices both here in Kachibora offices and county social services offices but our efforts have bore no fruits. We are tired, we don't know what to do next" Beta said.

Her worry is how to take care of her ailing mother who needs constant and frequent medical check up as well as her attention.

"My mother is suffering from Arthritis. This is a disease that needs medication, therapy and even surgery. All these require money which we don't have because we have drained all our savings'' she added.

Fred Maoga, area retired chief, said he raised the concern with the government before retiring and wondered why her situation has not been addressed.

"The government is aware of this matter because I lodged a complaint before I retired. We demand that she is paid all her pending arrears because it is the government that erred by delisting her without fact checking" Maoga said.

Cherangany/Suwerwa MCA Matthews Orang'o expressed fears that other elderly people could be suffering due to such errors.

He challenged the concerned ministry to put in place a watertight system that will address such issues.

"With proper systems, such issues can be addressed. We also want further devolution of social services to sub location level so that our elderly people are not forced to travel long distances" Orang'o said.

However, Trans Nzoia East officer in charge of Social services Emily Woyet dismissed claims that Kemunto was delisted on grounds of death and said that the department has already filled an update form and promised that she will be back in the system once the clean up exercise is done.

"The claims that she is not receiving her money because she is dead are not true. Her money could be because of shared caregivers reasons. In fact we have similar cases which we are handling" Woyet said.

This comes at a time when the government is cleaning the Inua Jamii Cash Transfer across the country.