Africa-Press – Kenya. A man has petitioned the Senate to facilitate recognition and remuneration of village elders under the Nyumba Kumi Initiative. Benson Nyaga Kagete argued that village elders play an integral role in the functioning of the National Government at the grassroots by helping chiefs and assistant chiefs in the maintenance of law and order.
He further said village elders play a role in promotion of education and development matters through the Nyumba Kumi initiative. Kagete regretted that village elders discharge important roles without any remuneration from the government.
“They are not motivated and there are no laws or regulations that guide the absorption and employment of the village elders into the existing governance structure,” he explained. He said efforts to have the matter addressed by the relevant authorities have failed.
Kagete prays that the Senate intervenes and facilitates amendment of the National Government Coordination Act number 1 of 2013 to recognise a village as the lowest administrative unit after sub-location. He also wants the Act amended to provide for the establishment of a village council.
Kagete further wants the House to cause the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to develop a comprehensive policy on the recruitment and remuneration of village elders and in particular, the policy to cover the terms of engagement, functions of the village elders, criteria for recruitment and termination of engagement.
Speaker Amason Kingi directed that the Petition be committed to the Standing Committee on National Security, Defense, and Foreign Relations. The committee is required in not more than 60 calendar days to respond to the petitioner by way of a report addressed to him and laid on the Table of the Senate.
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