Effect of cash older persons ‘transfer program on the socio-economic well-being of the recipient households in Thika town Sub County in Kiambu County, Kenya.

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the beneficiaries' perceptions of the effectiveness of the Older Persons Cash Transfer Programme in Thika Sub-county, Kiambu County, Kenya. To tackle this challenge, the study employed Hansell's motivation theory, resilience theory, and the concept of critical ageing. A cross-sectional descriptive case study design was used. The focus encompassed 220 senior individuals, including programme beneficiaries and implementation stakeholders, selected through Fisher's formula and simple random sampling. Data collection entailed semi-structured questionnaires and key informant interviews subjected to qualitative and quantitative analysis. Moreover, the Chi-square test was employed to assess the significance of differences in the perception of how access to funds influences the well-being of beneficiaries, specifically examining gender-based variations between males and females. There are some significant insights based on the analysis of cash transfer modalities. Descriptive analysis revealed distinctive patterns in well-being categories by gender. Males had higher proportions in the "disagree" category, while females reported lower well-being levels. However, statistical tests (Pearson Chi-Square, Likelihood Ratio, and Linear-by-Linear Association) indicated no significant link between gender and well-being perceptions. Notably, females exhibited a more substantial proportion reporting lower well-being levels. Gender-specific challenges in the Older Persons Cash Transfer Programme were observed, underscoring the need for detailed and gender-sensitive interventions to enhance socio-economic well-being. Furthermore, participants brought up issues such as delays in fund disbursement, which caused distress and caretaker exploitation. The recipients also stressed the pressing need for increased funding, especially for those with significant responsibilities. Keywords:cash transfer, older persons, cash transfer programme, socioeconomic well-being, vulnerability.