YOU HAVE APPETITE FOR ELDERS' MONEY? NOT IN MY CONSTITUENCY, DUALLE WARNS CORRUPT OFFICIALS

BY ADOW JUBAT

Majority leader in the National Assembly Aden Dualle has on Sunday said the government officials found on diverting social funds meant to caution the disables and elderly people from adversity will be made to refund what they steal before they are punished severely in accordance to the law.

Responding to claims by elders who are beneficiaries of the old people fund that they were made to receive a half of what they were suppose to get even after their remittance from the government is delayed for months, the majority leader corrupt civil servants has no place in Jubilee administration.

Speaking at his Garissa township constituency, after meeting elders and physically challenged persons, Dualle said it impossible for the government to release the money for the vulnerable aged people and the money fails to reach the intended persons because some officials could be colluding with unscrupulous fund's committee members to swindle the money.

He said elderly people are most vulnerable in any society and those entrusted to handle their little upkeep from the government shouldn't take advantage of their frailty to swindle them adding any one found to abet corruption in the management of the money will be caught by long arm of the law and punished accordingly.

Garissa Township lawmaker called on his colleagues from the region and other parts of the country to give a lot of due consideration to the plight of the elderly population who he noted due to, the change dynamics in many societies are neglected and left to fend for themselves.

"I call upon my colleagues in the parliament not only to ensure the money meant for the elders people reach them, but I further want them to chip into the kitty at their constituency level to substantially raise the number of the vulnerable old people are covered under the scheme", he said.

He added "The national Government annually releases Billions of money in support of elderly and other vulnerable people in 290 constituencies, these monies will not reach properly its intended beneficiaries, if members of parliament will not take charge and oversee its rightful disbursement to the most needy,"

Dualle said there are more than five hundred beneficiaries in his Garissa Township constituency adding that he has formulated watertight grassroots guidelines to ensure the money reaches the intend person on time and most hassle free channel.

"I have formed a strong committee at the constituency level who will ensure that no corrupt public officer, will take undue advantage of the most needy in our society and divert their money into their pockets, this committee will be answerable for any abuse of the fund," he explained.

Under the fund the national government gives sh.2000 monthly to elders who are age above 65 years and who were identified by a fund's committee as vulnerable, however, across Northeastern region complains of misuses of the money by the government officials responsible for its disbursement is are rife

Garissa Township Mp also revealed that elders from his constituency who were used to take their money through post bank will soon pick their remittance from the local Kenya Commercial Bank branch in Garissa town.

The majority leader hinted that in a bid to fight corruption in the disbursement of the fund the government may consider using finger print technology, where beneficiary person details including his/her fingerprints will be captured at the bank to ensure those taking the money are genuine beneficiaries.