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{
    "id": 1373398,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1373398/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 220,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mandera West, UDM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Yusuf Adan",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. I stand to support this very important Bill, which has been brought here by my brother, Hon. Injendi. Village elders are very important people in any community within Kenya. If the job they do could have been valued monetarily, they could have been paid even more than Deputy County Commissioners (DCCs). They are right on the ground. They make sure that government and cultural systems work smoothly. They keep peace. Weak members of communities are reported to them and taken care. Village elders are very important that we cannot value their activities in terms of money. Unfortunately, since Independence, this House has been talking about recognising them by giving them some little stipend. As they do their work, they make telephone calls. They need to have airtime in order for them to work effectively and more efficiently. The days when people used to ride horses and travel around by other means are gone. Nowadays people sit in their homesteads, make calls and make things happen. Unfortunately, most of them cannot afford airtime. We must recognise, register and give them some stipend to make their work smooth so that there can be stability, peace and development in the country. Without village elders, there would be no peace, stability and development in our country. They are very important. Unfortunately, they have been forgotten. We mention them year in year out. In every new Parliament, Motions like this one are always passed. Unfortunately, they do not reach the implementation stage. Many times, it is said that there is no budget line. I concur with those Members who said that this time round we are at the right time in the right place, because we want to start the budget- making process. Can we make sure that we fast-track this Bill, pass it, recognise our village elders, consider some stipend for them and put that in the budget? The Committee on Implementation should take this issue very seriously and ensure it is implemented. With those few remarks, I support the Bill."
}