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{
    "id": 1195393,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1195393/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 237,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Marakwet West, Independent",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Timothy Kipchumba",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this time to contribute to this Motion. I thank Hon. Mutuse, who brought this Motion before this House. This is a matter that is dear to my heart. I remember when I campaigned in Marakwet West Constituency, one of the things that I promised village elders is that I would address this issue on the Floor of the House. I thank God for this opportunity to address this matter. Village elders perform very critical functions in this country. In fact, the irony of it is that whereas village elders are assigned functions, they are not remunerated. That is something that this House must pursue so that they can be remunerated well when the time comes. Article 159 of the Constitution talks about judicial authority. Article 159(2) talks about alternative forms of dispute resolution. One form of alternative dispute resolution is the traditional dispute resolution mechanism. I believe that once village elders or village units are gazetted and recognised by law, they will play a very critical role in terms of settling disputes in a traditional manner. Village elders have a lot of knowledge on matters to do with culture and solving disputes. They will play a very critical role when it comes to issues of dispute resolution. If we are to achieve this, we must look at amending the National Government Coordination Act of 2013. This is because even if we pass a Motion in this House, yet we do not have legislation that will anchor village units and elders in law, we may not be able to achieve the matter that has been brought before this House. To realise this, yesterday, my friend, Hon. Mutuse, informed this House that he has already submitted a legislative proposal. Equally, I have submitted a legislative proposal to the Speaker intending to amend the National Government Coordination Act to include village elders as part of the administrative authority in this country. It is my prayer that when the Bill to amend the National Government Coordination Act comes to this House, village elders will be legally anchored in law and, as such, they will be duly remunerated like other officers who are provided for in that Act. Chiefs and assistant chiefs have assigned functions to village elders, yet they are just exercised arbitrarily. At the end of it, village elders are not remunerated. I find that the ultimate way of achieving this is by anchoring village units in legislation. That will be the only way of ensuring that village elders get their remuneration in a lawful and legal manner. I support this Motion. I thank the Hon. Member for this Motion."
}