By Okong’o Oduya
Busia County, Kenya: Women Village elders in Busia County are calling upon the National Government to allocate them monthly salaries.
They say that despite working tirelessly to address challenges facing the community they come from, they have never been appreciated by the government.
During the celebration of World International women’s day 2023, the village elders from all over the County noted that the previous governments have failed to acknowledge their role in the community.
“All we are asking the current government is to factor us in their budget. Even if it is getting Ksh2, 000 every month that will motivate us. We encounter a lot of challenges in addressing security matters in our villages but we are hardly appreciated.” said Beatrice Awuor, a village elder from Nambale Sub County.
Besides the lack of a monthly stipend, the elders further noted that they work in hostile environments including a lack of tools for work and identification putting their lives at risk.
“We need identification and tools of work as well. We require torches, umbrellas, and uniforms to help us work effectively in the villages we represent,” she noted
According to Ms. Monica Nanjala from Angurai Teso North, they have families to look after, and without a monthly stipend, it is difficult to work effectively.
“We have families to look after and without monthly income yet we are working for the government it becomes difficult to provide for our families and also demoralizing. We have our husband and in a situation where you are needed urgently our family expects something from us, but unfortunately, it is not the case,” she said
Her sentiments were echoed by Ms. Angeline Musikoye a village elder in Tingolo village Butula Sub-County.
Ms. Bibiana Oduory a village elder in Bulemia village challenged the government bodies, such as the Uwezo fund, National government Affirmative Action fund, and women enterprise fund to consider vulnerable women self-groups during funding adding that in most cases they have applied for the fund in vain.
However, Busia woman representative Ms. Catherine Omanyo assured that she will push for the bill that is in the national assembly proposing for a monthly stipend to all village elders to be effected into law.
“The bill proposing village elders across the country to be put on monthly stipend has been in the national assembly for a long time. It is time to pass it into law so that all village elders are put on monthly salary,”
It is not fair to see you people working in harsh environments addressing issues of security in villages without being appreciated yet you have responsibilities to take care of,” she noted
She urged the group to form self-help groups to receive support from the National Government Affirmative Action Fund through various projects.
“I urge you to form groups so that through them you can apply for support from the National Government Affirmative Action Fund. There are a lot of projects that we can do to elevate us economically as we wait for the government to put you on a monthly stipend,” she added.
