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{
    "id": 184925,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/184925/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 207,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Ethuro",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 158,
        "legal_name": "Ekwee David Ethuro",
        "slug": "ekwee-ethuro"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I am a bit careful with these things. The young legislator is thinking about the elderly; only that he has forgotten that he is talking about elders and headmen. There are also women who are serious elders. It is important to recognize the role that elders play in our society. We do not want that important role to be left at the whims of a local chief or assistant chief who will just decide whom to pick or not to pick. What the hon. Member is asking is to seek leave of the House to amend the Chiefs Act. The Assistant Minister has owned up that even the Act provides for employment, which means that there must be some gainful compensation for those people. We are not asking them to be put on the payroll. We are asking for some token of appreciation. This Motion is going to reduce corruption. That is because October 8, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 2549 when a young man attains the age of 18 and goes to the elders for verification, he is asked for a \" meza ya wazee.\" Now, there will be no need for \" meza ya wazee .\" Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Motion is also asking for governance at the very grassroots level. That is because when we acknowledge the vital role played by the elders - the process by which they get appointed - then we will have infused transparency and democratic principles to the very local village. Many at times, Ministers of Government, especially when we have conflicts, will come to this House and tell us that they are going to put wazees together. Many at times also, we have reminded the Government that those wazees are not paid for that job. It is Government officers who are paid for that job. This will ensure that, when we are calling upon the elders to contribute to important issues like conflict resolution, especially for those of us who come from the international borders, and even within northern Kenya where we have conflicts between warring communities, those elders will be remunerated properly for the job that they do. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the job of a chief needs to be redefined. I have heard this House being informed that we are going to make the chiefs be responsible for the registration of deaths and births. How do think they get that information? It is through those village elders who provide the same information to the chiefs for free. Movement across the districts, especially in times of conflicts over pasture and water - where some of us come from - you will find that, most of the time, the people who move with the herders are the village elders and not even the chiefs. This Motion is extremely important in promoting information flow, transparency, accountability and giving due recognition to the elders. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to support."
}