Former councillors ask for Uhuru’s help in send off package stalemate

By Robert Nyasato  

KISII, KENYA: Former councillors who served in local authorities in Kisii County have petitioned President Kenyatta to intervene for them to get gratuity as a send home package. 

They lamented that without the gratuity, they were unable to cope with the increasing cost of living, saying they were wallowing in poverty after losing in the March General Elections. 

Speaking to the press in Kisii town on Thursday, the civic leaders led by former Kisii Deputy Mayor Patrick Siro, they said MPs in the last parliament were each paid Sh3.7 million gratuity but councillors were left out. 

Siro, flanked by former councillors Daniel Onchari, Simon Omwoyo, Sixters Onchari and Moses Kimaiga said they proposed Sh5000 send home package and were promised to be paid once the law was amended to carter for them. 

He said the constitution provided gratuity for Members of County Assemblies, saying they should be included alongside other former State Officers who qualified for gratuity and pension scheme. 

Siro observed that majority of former civic leaders   were poor, saying they needed the money to invest and lead descent lives, noting some had became paupers. 

Impoverished members of the public noted Siro   demanded cash handouts from former councilors to address economic and social problems, forcing the leaders to avoid them to evade embarrassment.  

At the same time they backed MCA demand for pay rise saying they were the backbone of the devolved system of government. 

“If they paralyzed the county assemblies, the counties will stagnate, hamper devolution and create conflicts,” Siro warned. 

The MCAs noted Siro would resort to corrupt activities or skip county business  for their private engagements in a bid to increase their incomes to lead better lives and support their constituents, stressing majority left lucrative jobs and would be tempted to resign for them.