1,200 Former Councilors in Nyanza want sendoff package of shs 1.5 million each.

 Former Councilors from Nyanza region address the press in Kisumu where they want the national Government to pay them a sendoff package of shs 1.5million beginning the next Finacial year of 2018/2019-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo 

By Dickson Odhiambo.

     

 May 11, 2018

1,200 Former Councilors in Nyanza want sendoff package of shs 1.5 million each. 

FORMER Councilors at the defunct Local Authorities in Nyanza now want the National Government to ensure that they are paid a sendoff package of shs 1.5 million each beginning the next Fiscal year of 2018/2019.

The about1, 200 former councilors in the now six counties with Nyanza region want this included in the next financial year Budget.

Speaking to the press in Kisumu today, the former civic leaders who served between 1960 and 2012 also demand a monthly pension of Sh30, 000. 

 They say the government should consider providing them with the sendoff package and monthly pension while recognizing the work they did during their tenure as leaders elected by the people. 

Chairman Joseph Ogut of Kisumu county councilor’s forum who led the former civic leaders says they also want free parking for their vehicles within the jurisdiction where they served. 

Ogut says that councilors during their tenure they were only being paid allowances without salary hence they deserved sendoff package and monthly pension.

 They say they played a key role in the defunct local authority and therefore they deserve to be given sendoff package and monthly pension like Members of Parliament.

Former Councilor at the now defunct Municipality George Weda has called upon President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga to intervene on the matter to ensure their demands are addressed amicably.

 “It is very unfortunate that the MPs are just busy with their welfare and they seem to have forgotten us yet we also served this country in our capacity as councilors diligently,” he says.

Samuel Mokweri from Kisii region who served as a civic leader from 1992- 2012 said most councilors live in abject poverty and the government should urgently consider the issue of sendoff. 

Kisumu county councillors’ forum secretary Sadam Omondi claims that some of them have since passed on without getting an amicable solution on the issue of sendoff package.

“We are now wondering who will benefit on behalf our colleagues who have passed on before the implementation of the resolutions on the package which was approved by Senate on February 16, 2016,” he said.

They add that this a better sign for the famous handshake between the two leaders which happened recently, adding that  they are also calling upon governors, Senators, MPs and MCAs to support the sendoff package and monthly pension.

Further, the councilors accused MPs for failing to approve the petition for legislative interventions to address the welfare of former councilors despite having been approved by the Senate. 

The say the MPs have been increasing their pay rise and are going to be paid a lot of money yet they have declined to approve our sendoff package.

ENDS: