By HARRIET MUGO
Kibwezi West Member of Parliament, Mwengi Mutuse has successfully petitioned a motion where the national government will pay village elders a monthly salary.
Mutuse stated that the MPs unanimously passed the motion, which was debated in the House.
“We now move to implementation. I’m happy the CS Interior Hon. Kithure Kindiki, as evidenced during his approval hearing is already aligned, save for the amounts and modalities,” he stated.
The Maendeleo Chap Chap MP urged the National Government through the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Administration to establish all existing villages as administrative units, recruit and enumerate the existing village elders as administrative officers.
He added that villages are well recognised as administrative units under Section 14 of the National Government Coordination Act No.1 of 2013.
He said that village elders are not paid, contrary to Article 41 of the Constitution on fair labour practices, despite offering services to the public.
“Village Elders do interact with citizens at the lowest level of the society hence their recognition is in the public interest, and their remuneration has been long overdue,” he added.
He, however, did not disclose the amount that will be allocated to the village elders and whether it would be raised by taxpayers.
