Written By Ramadhan Kambi 📝
The national government has been asked to pay former councillors from Kilifi County their dues before the August General Election.
More than 400 former councilors from Kilifi said majority of them are living in abject poverty while others are ailing and continuous delay in payment more will die broke.
The former leaders spoke in Malindi after they met to discuss their political plan at the county level
They resolved to fully participate in the polls and also be part of the next county government to be formed after the August polls.
Their demands come after Treasury CS Ukur Yatan said late last year that Secretary Ukur that the government would pay the ex-councilors countrywide a minimum of Sh 200,000 for those who served two terms and a maximum of Sh600,000 for those who served four terms and above.
The meeting was attended by 35 councilors from the former defunct Malindi municipal council and county council of Malindi.
Some of the councilors looked sick while others have become physically challenged and are in dire need of money.
Some said they fear for their lives and would die before the government make good its promises of paying them the dues.
Peterson Kafulo a Former Malindi mayor who served from 2003 to 2007 said even though they were not satisfied with the amount but the government has also not paid them.
Mr Kafulo said MPs are paid a lot of money yet the councilors are getting peanuts which is also not being paid.
“When you look at the current state of former councilors in the country if they get the Sh 200,000 it could help them but still, that one was announced and we expect by April we will see if it will be included in the budget,” he said.
Mr Kafulo who is the coordinator of all ex-councilors in Kilifi county said they will fight till the last former leader dies to ensure they get their dues.
In the meeting he said they had deliberated that they will unanimously convene meetings with all aspiring governors and choose the best one to support for victory in the oncoming general elections.
He said they had found out that by not being active in elective politics they end up missing proper leadership and end up regretting it.
Ngalla Mwagandi who is a former Deputy mayor who served from 1998 to 2002 said in the previous elections because as leaders they failed to be part of the electoral campaign’s nominations were awarded to people from Nyanza.
He said because they do not partner with aspirants to contribute whether physically or financially it makes it difficult for them to be considered.
“This time we would like to vote wisely we sensitize our people by telling them that we do not want money but want to know what we will get after the elections because there are so many positions both at the county and national levels,” he said.
Ali Didi former councilor Watamu ward served for 15 years sad poverty levels are currently high but those elected MCAs do not care about the people.
He said their dues should be paid as it’s their right after having served in the municipalities and county councils.
“Many of us are sick they are admitted in hospitals and cannot afford to pay their bills” he said.
Didi said former councilors served their nation diligently and are the foundation of the current devolved system who deserve to be recognised.
Harrison Ziro a former Adu councilor from Magarini said initially they had heard the government would pay them Sh 2.5 million and Sh30,000 monthly.
He said the government should rectify that and make sure all former civic leaders get that desired amount instead of the Sh200,000 proposed.
“Whatever had been planned at the beginning should be left that way uniformly for all ex-councilors to be paid before they die and before elections,” he said.
Johnson Kadzitu former Councilor Marafa 2003 to 2007 who served as Vice Chairman County Council for two terms said they have heard challenges since they lost power as the current leadership does not recognize them.
He said they have been suffering in hospitals and cannot pay bills leaving them to die.
“I would urge the government to pay us our sendoff package we do not know what the leaders are doing there,” he said.
According to Agnes Thoya a former councilor who served in Malindi municipal council from 2003 to 2007 said it was sad that they have been forgotten by the government.
“During our time we were only getting allowances and not salaries but why are not being given our send off package,” she said.
Thoya appealed to Treasury CS and President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene to ensure that the dues are paid before elections.
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