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{
    "id": 1373420,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1373420/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 242,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Busia County, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Catherine Omanyo",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I want to say at the outset that I supported the Motion that culminated in this Bill. The village elders do not fit in the government’s spreadsheet yet the government depends on them, through the chiefs and the assistant chiefs, to know the real situation in the villages. One village elder takes care of about 200 homesteads. He understands who the owners are. The village elder knows how many children are in each of those homesteads, how many are not going to school, and ensures that all children go to school yet they do not have any salary at the end of the month. It is unfair that their children stay home. Village elders have the inside scoop from the grassroot. The government talks about the grassroot – the hustlers. These are the people who the government should help first to make sure that they at least live in dignity because they risk and dare so much. A village elder’s duties may include, among others, pointing out thieves, drug dealers and rapists. If a drug dealer who was identified, for instance, goes to jail and finds his way out, you can imagine how the village elder would still show his mettle, continues to survive and support the community. They dare to put their families in danger but still provide the right information to the Chiefs or Assistant Chiefs so that villagers can live in harmony. Their inability to act makes them helpless. They may be holding important information but they cannot do anything. Their work is just to pass the information to the relevant government agencies. We, therefore, urge that we continue supporting this Bill so that village elders can be legitimate. If you have something every month, you will get motivated. I understand that they are appointed in accordance to the length of time that they have stayed in the villages. It does not matter if they have academic qualifications or not. When the time comes, nobody will introduce the issue of academic qualifications. The wise ones might not have gone to school and if they did, it is on lower levels. I, therefore, support fully. I also urge the government that since Independence this cadre has never been considered. It is time to affirm and make sure they get some sort of protection because the job they do is not very attractive. It is our job to ensure that everybody in our country lives in peace and harmony."
}