The document outlines a strategy by Help for the Elderly (HfE) to advocate for improved support and care of elderly persons in Kenya. It notes that while the government has established a cash transfer program, only 6% of elderly people are currently covered and the amount provided has not increased despite rising costs of living. The strategy aims to register all 2.5 million needy elderly Kenyans and advocate for increasing the cash transfer budget. It details objectives, targets, allies, messaging, approaches, resources and governance structure to achieve this over 3 years at a cost of 94 million Kenyan shillings. Risks are also identified and mitigation measures outlined.

1. HELP FOR THE ELDERLY (HfE)
“Kijana Leo, Mzee Kesho, Tuwalinde Wazee”

2. OUR VISION
To have a Kenya in which all older people lead
dignified, active, healthy and secure lives.

3. OUR VALUES
We believe in:
•The unique worth of each person at all times
•The rights of each older person upheld
• The importance of holistic care and support and the
value of community interaction

4. QUOTE
We have a tendency
to think of older
people as a
separate group
rather than to
recognize that
hopefully, old age
will be a phase in all
our lives

5. INTRODUCTION
• 2009 Kenya Population Housing Census, states older
persons comprises 10% of the total population
897,607 (males) & 1,028,444 (female)
• 2010, Kenya government introduced the cash
transfer program to the elderly and other vulnerable
groups and recognized the elderly people in the
constitution (KLRC, 2010)
• However a study by the University of Minnesota in
2013 revealed that not all older people are covered.
Even those covered are not adequately provided for
(Kaschel, 2015).

6. INTRODUCTION cont..
• In the fiscal year 2012/2013 59,000 older persons
benefited
• The figure was rose upwards in 2013/2014 fiscal year to
164,000.
• In 2014/2015 the number of beneficiaries is slightly
above 300,000
How this happens
During the 2015/2016 financial year, the Government
allocated Ksh7.4 billion for Older Persons, compared to
Sh5.9 billion allocated in the previous year. The trend is
an increasing budgetary allocations since 2011.

7. INTRODUCTIONS cont…
Outputs
Since 2011 when this programme was launched, only 6% of
the older population who deserve support have been reached.
The only thing that has remained constant over the years is the
amount of money that beneficiaries receive, ie. Ksh 2000.
(Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Services)
This confirms the Minnesota study which also disclosed that
more than half of the 85-year olds are forced to work and fend
for themselves in order to survive.
In other words, poverty at an old age is still not being dealt
with.

8. PROBLEM STATEMENT
Although the government has shown its commitment to
lessening vulnerability among needy older persons in
Kenya, the Ksh.2,000 given to beneficiaries every other
year is not informed by inflationary trends. Maintaining
the figure negates the government’s good intentions.
To advocate that the national and county authorities
increase the number of beneficiaries and the budget
allocated for the cash transfer programs commensurate to
current standards of living.
OVERALL AIM OF THE STRATEGY

9. OBJECTIVES
1. To ensure the 2.5 million needy older persons in Kenya
are registered as beneficiaries by December 2018.
2. To advocate for an increment in the budget allocation
for the cash transfer program, commensurate to the
current standards of living.

10. TARGETS / POWER ANALYSIS
• The government of Kenya namely;
National Treasury, Cabinet Secretary – Mr. Henry Rotich*;
Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Services, Cabinet
Secretary, Hon. Phyllis Kandie ***
• Governors & Legislatures from all the 47 counties ***
• All the 2.5 million unregistered old persons in Kenya **
• Kenyan Human Right Commissions (KHRC),Chief Executive
Officer , Mr. George Kegoro **
• Kenya Adult Learners Association Director – Mrs. Magdalene
Gathoni Motsi **
• HelpAge International, Regional Dir - Mr. Prafulla Mishra and
Kenya Director MR Jeffery Maganya **

11. ALLIES
• Elder Care Network Organization – Civil Society
Organization
• Media
• Action 2015- A coalition of civil society Organizations
• National Gender and Equality Commission - Commission
• United National Population Fund (UNFPA) –
International Organization
• Development Work in Education, Livelihood and
Environment (DWELE) – Civil society Organization
• Nyumba ya Wazee
• Academia – Philomena Makena Mathiu and Elosy Kangai
Mathiu

12. CORE MESSAGES
Key message 1: The youth bulge of today is the age bulge of
tomorrow; decisions made today determine our
lives in old age.
Supporting text: Old age is a phase in our life.
Key message 2: It is time to fully implement policies to support
a dignified and secure old age.
Supporting Statements : At some point of our lives, we shall
hopefully all get old.
Key Message 3: Millions are missing from the data, there is
need for counties to know the number of older
persons within their counties to inform
decisions for service improvement
Supporting statements :Many vulnerable people are left out of
interventions since they are not known

13. CORE MESSAGE cont..
Message to convey to decision makers in private
Key message 4: Inequality:
a) Gender discrimination -effect on the women
• This message will used to lobby Kenya Women
Parliamentarians Association (KEWOPA) to support full
implementation of the policy and registration of all old women
in Kenya as beneficiaries of the cash transfer program.
b) Inequality based on health, education and agriculture
across the counties also affects older persons differently.
• The status of the elderly in society is also an indicator of the
economic and social development of the country (Global
AgeWatch Index 2015)

14. APPROACHES AND ACTION PLAN
(Tools for our advocacy)
1. Face to face Meetings
With key leaders in both County and central Government
2. Conferences to create awareness
Plan for a conference on the 1st of October which is an
International Day of Older persons
3. Training and Education
Training of our Champions whom we shall use to advocate
for the elderly.
4. Street marches
We shall use older persons to hold street matches to raise
public awareness on their issues
5. Outreaches through County workshops and seminars
Hold workshops & seminars in all counties to educate and

15. APPROACHES AND ACTION PLAN
Tools for our advocacy cont..
6. Media
Engage media through training and capacity building so as to
raise awareness on issues of older persons
7. Lobbying
We shall lobby legislators and MCAs to push for more
allocation of the budget
8. Publicity
The communication office will produce material such
as Posters, Tshirts and giveaways and flyers or
brochures. They will also create social media platform
outreach pages such as Facebook, Twitter and keep
them alive by using hashtags.

16. HUMAN & FINANCIAL RESOURCES
(Administration)
HR: The advocacy work will be led by an
Advocacy, Campaigns and Policy Director
Who will work hand in hand with a Project
manager, programme officer, communication
and ICT officers not to mention non-technical
staff
Budget
The strategy would cost Ksh 94 Million shillings
for 3 years

17. RISKS AND THEIR MITIGATION
• Political –HfE promise to be very non-political
• Economic-avoid overreliance on a single donor. Intend
to have as wide pool of donors as possible
• Social-seek to play it safe with like minded organizations
so as not to be viewed as competitors
• Technological- HfE shall apply new innovations as they
arise
• Environmental-seek moral approval of the older
persons for the right to speak for, with and about them
• Legal-shall strive to work within the country’s law.

18. MONITORING AND EVALUATION ,
PLANNING AND LEARNING
Monitoring will be a continuous process which
will begin at the onset of the program.
There shall be a mid-term and end-term
evaluations (2)

19. Summary Indicator Means of verification Assumptions/risks
Goal To have 2.5 million
needy older persons on
cash transfer by 2018
Percentage of people
that are getting the
cash transfer money
Money transaction
data showing access of
money by needy older
persons
We have old needy people
There is a budget allocation
Outcome Improved lives of the
2.5 million Kenyans
above 65 years of age
Better living standards
and health care
Food, clothing and
housing
Improved lives leading to
better housing, health care,
Output Regular cash is given
out to the 2.5 M
Evidence of receipt of
the money
Receipt, bank slips,
M-Pesa message
Regular disbursement of
the money
Activities Registration of needy
older persons
Names of all the
registered needy
people
Number of people
registered
List of the agents
identified to undertake
the task
People are registered
Agents are fully trained
Older people were trained
on wise use of money
Input Funds
Human resources
Budgetary allocations
Hired staff
Cash transfers
People working
Money and staff in place

20. GOVERNANCE
The strategy will be under policy direction of an
Executive Board of Governors who include
1. Henry Herman Neondo (14-2820)
2. Zipporah Kioko ( 14-2606)
3. Lucy Kawira (14-1184)
4. Beatrice Kibe (15-0519)
5. Roza Amsalu ( 14-2026)

21. “What mothers need, as well as fathers, spouses, and the children of aging
parents, is an entire national infrastructure of care, every bit as important as the
physical infrastructure of roads, bridges, tunnels, broadband, parks and public
works.”
Anne-Marie Slaughter