This archive report was first published on 13 June 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread in Kenya, the elderly population remains one of the most vulnerable groups. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), individuals aged 60 and above, or those with underlying conditions, are at a higher risk of contracting the virus.
President Uhuru Kenyatta recently expressed concern for his mother, Mama Ngina Kenyatta, who is over 80 years old, and emphasized the importance of adhering to government-imposed measures to curb the spread of the virus.
However, despite the WHO's recommendation that individuals in this age group wear medical masks in situations where physical distancing is not possible, the Kenyan government has failed to provide adequate protection for the elderly.
Health CAS Rashid Aman specified on June 8 that individuals in this age group should wear N95 masks, but the availability and affordability of these masks remain a significant challenge. The price range of N95 masks, between Sh200 and Sh1,500, is beyond the means of many elderly individuals who struggle with basic expenses.
The government's elderly cash transfer program has also been marred by corruption, with reports of unscrupulous individuals using national identification cards of the elderly to obtain funds.
Furthermore, the Huduma Namba system, which was introduced to provide a single source of truth on a person's identity, has failed to deliver on its promise of ease of service delivery to the elderly.
As a result, the financial burden of purchasing N95 masks for the elderly will fall on the shoulders of their already strained children and grandchildren.
Ms. Faith Oneya comments on social and gender issues. Twitter @FaithOneya;
