- Kibwezi West Member of Parliament Mwengi Mutuse observes Sh4 billion or Sh5 billion annually will serve the need
- Kitui Central Member of Parliament Dr Makali Mulu supports the proposal to alleviate long suffering by village elders
- Kiharu Member of Parliament, Chair Budget and Appropriation C’ttee approves legislative proposal awaiting parliamentary adoption
Kitui Central Member of Parliament Dr Makali Mulu on Tuesday backed the legislative proposal seeking state to pay village elders Sh7000 per month
Speaking at Parliament Buildings, Makali noted that village elders have for long been misused by state in reporting matters insecurity and aiding government to implements it’s policies and projects
“Since the law appreciates the work these people are doing I think it’s high time now to we implement the proposals so that we appreciate them on services they are offering to the country through a token of appreciations, allowances or salary,” Makali remarked
His counterpart Kibwezi West Member of Parliament Mwengi Mutuse, defended the legislative piece that if parliament can appropriate Sh4 billion annually, village elders would get a total of Sh7000 per month
“Basically we require about Sh4 billion and 5 billion to pay them every year. We are proposing that they be paid Sh1000 every week and they can have four sittings in month so those are Sh4000,” He inserted
Mutuse further added that the stipend will enhance coordination of government projects as well as boosting their morale to aid in disclosing of criminal elements within the villages
“We are starting with the village elders then next time we move to Nyumba kumi so that the entire system of the national government on ground is remunerated and therefore government services can be services can be received including security, arbitration and ADR services that they provid in a more efficient and effective manner,” Mutuse observed
The proposal which was approved by National Assembly Departmental Committee on Budget and Appropriation Chaired by Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro is waiting adoption by the committee of the whole house
Nyoro has already approved the publication of the bill enacted as National Government Coordination Amendment Bill, 2023 seeking to address long suffering of villagers
If adopted by parliament, village elders will receive sitting allowance of Sh4000 for four sittings a month, Sh2000 for transport allowance and Sh1000 for airtime which he or she spends talking to villagers on government issues