Kilifi, Kisii, and Kirinyaga counties are leading in cases of elderly killings about allegations of practicing witchcraft.
The statistics released by the state department of social protection indicate that the killings are now on the rise, unlike in the past when the old was being targeted over land wrangles.
Josephine Muriuki, in charge of the Directorate of Social Development, said that Kilifi was leading, having recorded 325 killings of the elderly.
Muriuki further revealed a new trend of the elderly killings where the elderly had become targets due to the Inua jamii cash transfer- an initiative by the government that has been facilitating cash transfers to senior citizens aged 70 years and above for the last eight years.
"One out of 6 elders that are being abused daily is through neglect, being killed due to their land, in jamii cash transfer whereby the caregivers do not give all the money as required. Their caregivers kill them to receive the money," said Muriuki.
She spoke in Kilifi County at Mrima Wa Ndege during the World Elders Abuse Awareness Day celebrations.
Mrima wa Ndege is a village where the elderly, rescued from being killed, are housed for their safety.
Muriuki further noted that close family members of the elderly had neglected their roles of taking care of the elderly and left it to well-wishers and the government.
On his part, Jude Otogo, the Country representative for Health Age international Kenya, said that records indicate that at least one older adult was being killed every month.
A factor he attributed to the Inua jamii cash transfer initiative.
"The abuse being witnessed among the elderly is being perforated by their relatives who are their caregivers and sometimes government service providers and other institutional service providers," he said.
Otogo appealed to the general community to safeguard the rights of the elderly and the government to enact the necessary legislation to protect their rights.
"We need to make people understand that these are not stories they hear in the media. These are real people murdered in cold blood, and not enough is being done to address these issues," he said.
Ganze Member of Parliament Teddy Mwambire called on the government to establish a toll-free number for reporting cases of abuse among the elderly as it could help save lives.
