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{
    "id": 1196282,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1196282/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 284,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nominated, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Irene Mayaka",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 110,
        "legal_name": "John Mbadi Ng'ong'o",
        "slug": "john-mbadi"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I also stand to support the Motion on renumeration of our village elders and their recognition, by my good friend Hon. Mutuse. When it comes to recognition of these village elders... First of all, we know that most of the time they have acted as voluntary public servants. They are also the people at the tail end of the grassroot level thus able to reach out to our people. The reason I support this Motion is that as Africans, we know there is something called the black tax. It is something that most people who earn a living do not mind doing. They support the people back in the village or those who leave in an urban setting but are not able to sustain themselves. At the same time, we live in an environment that has a lot of issues in terms of cost of living and so this particular black tax cannot be consistent. It cannot help the people at home or enable them lead sustainable livelihoods. Most of our village elders have been beneficiaries of the black tax but if you are able to ensure they are properly remunerated, it will enable them to become independent. There is a Member who mentioned that village elders have been known to be inclined to support the person who tends to support and give them handouts instead of being fair to everyone. If they will be remunerated and recognized, then, they will do their work in a much better way. Another thing we are very cognisant of, is that our elders are the people who suffer the most from medical conditions because of their age. If they get remunerated and handed health insurance, it will be good. This is because most of the insurance facilities that we have do not support people who are above the age of 65 years. If they get all that, they will be productive. In the Transition to Devolved Government Act of 2013, there was an attempt by county governments to institutionalise village elders and create for them councils. The problem with the attempts by the various county assemblies to make that work, is budget constraints. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I support this Motion. When we do this at the national level, it will trickle down in a proper manner and the remuneration will be done in a proper way. In addition, budgetary implications will be solved. I hope that they will be done in a proper way when they come to this House. Our village elders have been supportive in terms of dispute resolution. They have helped in mobilising local resources, especially where there is need for decision-making. In line with Articles 118 and 132 of our Constitution on public participation, the other reason I support this is that we most of the time find ourselves in situations where policies are made without proper public participation. We just finished discussing a Motion on delocalisation of teachers. One of the issues raised was that there was no proper public participation. These are institutions that we can use to enhance public participation by villagers who understand the real issues affecting people at the grassroots level. Village elders are the people who will tell you what is happening in households. Therefore, I submit my remarks and support the Motion. Thank you."
}