Influence of Older Persons’ Cash Transfer Programme on the Households’ Livelihood: a Case of Kipipiri Sub-county, Nyandarua County, Kenya

Abstract

This study examined the influence of older persons’ cash transfer (OPCT) program on the households’ livelihood: a case of Kipipiri sub county, Nyandarua County. OPCT programs are playing a central role in older persons’ social protection efforts, especially in sub-Saharan countries such as Kenya. This is evident through their steadily expanded coverage to enable older beneficiaries and their households access basic livelihood goods and services for their sustenance. The specific study objectives included: to examine how the amount of stipends paid by the program influenced households’ livelihood, to examine how financial training influenced the households’ livelihood, to explore how the disbursement procedures of the stipends influenced the households’ livelihood, and to examine how the utilization of stipends by program beneficiaries influenced their households’ livelihood. Descriptive research design was adopted in the study and 579 beneficiaries of OPCT program in Kipipiri Sub County based on the May/June 2015 payroll were targeted. Purposive and simple random sampling procedures were used to select 232 study participants. Primary data was collected through closed-ended questionnaires and key informant interview guides for the program beneficiaries and management respectively. Data analyses were done using SPSS and excel worksheets. The study findings revealed that different factors influenced differently how OPCT programme impacted households’ livelihoods. The two thousands shillings monthly stipend which has remained unchanged for more than six years despite the rising cost of living makes it impossible for the beneficiaries to meet their household needs. Similarly, majority of the respondents were unhappy with the mode of disbursement where beneficiaries receive the money through the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB). This was viewed as inconvenient due to the accompanying costs and the distance to pay points among other challenges. Improper utilization of the money was another challenge that made it difficult for the impact of the money at the household level be invisible. This was basically as a result of misplaced priorities when it came to utilization of the money. The study recommended reviews of the operations of the programme in terms of policy and otherwise for its greater impact on the beneficiaries and their households.