Lobby ask Government to extend Covid-19 weekly stipend to all vulnerable groups

 

 The Coordinator of Suba Development Forum Bernard Okebe who has urged the National Government should expand the Covid-19 weekly stipend to all vulnerable groups in various parts of the country-photo Courtesy

By Dickson Odhiambo

April 17, 2020

Lobby ask Government to extend Covid-19 weekly stipend to all vulnerable groups

THE National Government should expand the Covid-19 weekly stipend to all vulnerable groups in various parts of the country.

A lobby group known as Suba Development Forum urges the National Government to expand the program from Nairobi so as to cover other parts of the country as well.

Suba Development Forum Coordinator Bernard Arap Okebe says even other parts of the country are also hit hard on the issues of basic human needs hence the need to extend the Stipend to such areas.

Addressing the press after an extensive tour of various parts of Gwasi South ward within Suba South Constituency, Okebe said a number of elderly, widows, orphans, People with Disabilities and other vulnerable people are suffering most within the communities living in different parts of the country.

He appeals to President Uhuru Kenyatta to direct local members of the local administration to urgently identify such needy cases in the communities so as to benefit from the Corona virus emergency Fund.

He says Suba region and other parts of Nyanza just like any other parts of the country really need the weekly stipend from the National Government so as to cushion them from hunger that is now biting.

Okebe has also called on the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to consider increasing the social protection funds for the elderly.

He says such funding should be given regularly to cushion the elderly people from a lot of suffering during this period of the pandemic.

“We politely ask the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection so as consider increasing the social protection fund to the elderly and provide this fund regularly especially at this time of the Corona virus pandemic as it will be of great help,” says Okebe.

The Suba Development Forum Coordinator who visited Seka, Miriya, Mukuyu, Kinda and Longo areas of Gwasi says that it is necessary for both the national and County Governments intervene to save the situation of the suffering vulnerable groups in the society.

The Coordinator at the same time urges members of the public to observe very high standards of hygiene as set out by the National Government through the ministry of Health.

He says regular hand washing with soap and running water as well as sanitizing hands with hand sanitizers coupled with wearing of masks are critical for everyone including those in the rural areas in combating the spread of the Corona virus.

ENDS: