Social Implications of Cash Transfer Programme on the Elderly in Makueni County, Kenya

The 2015 elderly cash transfer program of the Kenyan government provided a paradigm shift in social and economic empowerment of the elderly. Older people aged 65 years and above in Kenya from different villages have been beneficiaries of the program. However, few studies have been carried out to determine the extent of social impact of this program among the beneficiaries. This study sought to investigate the impact of the program on Kitise location’s elderly residents, in Makueni County. The study employed a qualitative research design approach with a sample of 187 beneficiaries selected from across the county. While the findings covered multiple aspects of the program, they mostly showed that the participants’ socio-economic wellbeing improved with the program. Keywords: Older Persons Cash Transfer Program (OPCT), Social Wellbeing, Social Protection, Cash Transfers, Welfare. DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/15-2-05 Publication date: February 28th 2025