Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse is seeking to bring a motion that will oblige the National Government to gazette all existing villages as administrative units.
This implies that village elders will finally be recognized by the state and given a monthly salary for their work.
The legislator argues in a notice of motion that hasn’t yet been tabled at the National Assembly that village elders engage with wananchi at the grassroots level, therefore legitimizing their status is in the public interest.
“The village is not formally recognized as an administrative unit under section 14 of the National Government Co-Ordination Act no.1 of 2013,” Mutuse noted.
He went on to say that despite the fact that the village elders provide services to the general public and the government, they are not compensated for their work, which is in violation of article 41 of the Constitution, which deals with fair labor practices.
Article 10(2) (b) of the Constitution, he said, requires all state organs and all state officers to protect and promote human dignity, which includes the right to fair pay for one’s work.
The CS for Interior, National Administration, in agreement with the President and the Public Service Commission, has the authority to establish national government administrative units and designate administrative officers to serve under such units, he said.
In light of this, MP Mutuse has proposed a motion to the National Assembly that would require the government, through the Ministry of the Interior and the Coordination of National Administration, to gazette all existing villages as administrative units in accordance with Section 14 of the National Government Co-ordination Act no. 1 of 2013.
After the notice of motion has been presented, it will be scheduled for discussion so that the members of parliament can decide whether or not to accept it.
Members of parliament in 2019 considered the predicament of village elders and proposed several ways in which the government may provide them with suitable packages of remuneration.
Village elders have been credited with many useful achievements, including mediating conflicts, easing access to national government services like education and security practices like Nyumba Kumi, and much more.
In addition to a regular pay, the planned benefits packages are going to include provisions for free NHIF cover, uniforms, and modest offices in their respective fields of work.
Last year, Former West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo urged MPs to push for village elders to be on the public payroll since they make major contributions to the community
Lonyangauo said the village elders have been forgotten and yet no chief or assistant chief can work without them.
In 2014, Lonyangapuo tried to ensure village elders are enlisted on public payroll through the National Government Coordination (Amendment) Bill, but it has not been approved.
“I urge MPs to ensure elders get pay since they play a major role in the village administration. They have helped in fighting insecurity and alcohol and it’s high time the government should recognise them,” he said.
