Effect of Elderly Persons’ Unconditional Cash Transfer on Welfare of Older People in Chuka Subcounty, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya

Abstract

The older person population continue to increase amid concerns of economic vulnerability in communities prompting special attention. Programs such as UCT have been put in place to help improve the welfare of the elderly. In Africa, specifically Kenya, the impact of UCT among older persons have remained elusive. Therefore, in the current study, the focus is (a) to establish the effects of older persons' UCTs on the living condition, (b) to establish the consequences of older persons' UCTs on economic activities and (c) to determine the effects of older person UCTs on the purchasing power of the elderly in Chuka Sub County. The study relied on the Neo-classical utility theory and public choice theory. It adopted a non-experimental research design, specifically a descriptive research design via primary cross-sectional data for a case study approach. Primary data was gathered from a target population of 24536, and a sample size of 385 was obtained via stratified then subsequent random sampling technique. The study used a structured questionnaire as the primary data collection technique to allow an in-depth examination of the experiences of the elderly persons receiving UCT in Chuka-Subcounty from the Kenyan government. The data analysis entails descriptive and regression analysis. The findings indicated a relationship between the effect of UCT on the welfare of the elderly persons in Chuka Sub County, 16 per cent of the UCT affects the living conditions of the elderly persons, and the relationship is statistically significant and positive. 26.5 per cent of the UCT affects the economic status of elderly persons. The relationship between economic status and the UCT is statistically significant and positive. 56.6 per cent of the UCT affects the purchasing power of elderly persons, and the relationship is statistically significant and positive. In general, UCT is statistically significant and have a positive relationship between living condition, economic status and purchasing power of the elderly in Chuka Sub-County, Tharaka Nithi County. Future studies need to consider a need to focus on other regions to establish the effect of UCT on the region's economic effectiveness from a local traders' perspective.