Africa-Press – Kenya. Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse is seeking to bring a motion that will compel the National Government to gazette all existing villages as administrative units.
This means that that the government will officially recognize village elders and pay them a monthly salary.
In a notice of motion which is yet to be tabled at the National Assembly, the legislator explains that village elders interact with wananchi at the lowest level hence their recognition 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 further stated that despite the village elders offering services to the public and the Government, they are not remunerated contrary to article 41 of the Constitution on fair labour practices.
He said that Article 10(2) (b) of the Constitution binds state organs and state officers to uphold human dignity, which includes being remunerated for work done.
Also, he highlighted that the CS for Interior, National Administration in consultation with the President and the Public Service Commission have the power to establish national government administrative units and appoint administrative officers to serve under those units through a Gazette notice
As a result, MP Mutuse wants the National Assembly to adopt the motion which will compel the government through the ministry of interior and coordination of National Administration to gazette all existing villages as administrative units in line with Section 14 of the National Government Co-ordination Act no. 1 of 2013.
Once the notice of motion is tabled, it will be scheduled for debate for the MPs to approve or reject.
In 2019, the MPs discussed the plight of village elders, making proposals on how they may be remunerated by the government with desirable packages.
Important contributions of the village elder that were noted included aid in dispute resolution and facilitation of national government services like the promotion of education, and handling of security issues via initiatives like Nyumba Kumi, among others.
The proposed packages, other than regular salary, are set to include provisions of free NHIF cover, uniforms, and modest offices in their respective areas of work.
The motion was tabled by then MP for Tharaka, George Murugara.
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