Abstract:
Cash transfer to the elderly poor in Kenya is a national government programme being implemented through the Department of Social Development in the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Services. County governments have also adopted this programme and are now carrying it out at county level. The purpose of this study was to establish the leadership challenges facing the cash transfer to the elderly poor in Meru County.
The researcher used a descriptive survey research design which is most appropriate for collecting data about characteristics of a large population. The Survey was done both qualitatively and quantitatively using the cross-sectional design bearing in mind the different
levels of leadership. Questionnaires and interview schedule were used as the main tools of data collection, supplemented by documentary analysis and observation. The total population was 334 and the researcher sampled 91 respondents which was equivalent to 27.25% of the population. Of the 91 instruments administered, 86 were well filled and returned representing 94.4% return rate. The sampled leaders included: County Officer, Sub County officers, Constituency Social Assistance Committees and the Beneficiaries’ Welfare committees. Data collected was analyzed descriptively and inferentially by the use of the statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), and presented using frequency tables and percentages. The study found out that: leaders in the programme have varying levels of education ranging from Primary certificates to Masters Degree, not all leaders have received support training, community mobilization is not a technical issue, leaders value involvement of their followers though not in all matters regarding the implementation of the programme, not all leaders contact the Cash transfer beneficiaries during payment periods, not all sub counties have established beneficiary welfare committees, not all leaders received motivation, leaders were satisfied with the mode of communication, communication on programme activities was not timely, identification process of beneficiaries was good and that leaders know they have a duty in . ensuring proper utilization of stipends by the beneficiaries. The study recommends: development of a curriculum for training leaders, timely communication and standard mode of communication amongleaders, a standard way of forming beneficiary welfare committees, enhancement of motivation to include all leaders in the programme, enhanced relationship among leaders and with the beneficiaries, leaders to understand importance of community participation and involvement, support training for all leaders and increasing of pay points to enhance accessibility by beneficiaries.
