What are the duties and responsibilities of the people serving as village elders in our localities, and how best is everybody working in ensuring that these people execute their mandate well?
This was the critical question at a leadership forum organised by the Centre for Women and Democracy at a Naivasha hotel on Friday, where it was noted that the society had rendered village elders less useful and unreliable.
The main agenda was involving village elders in the fight against illicit brews that had continued to elicit varied reactions from society.
A majority of the speakers opined that the crackdown on the brews would be a success only if the elders are involved because they are the lowest level of authority and are well versed with their areas of jurisdiction.
“Our women are the most affected because they have lost sons, husbands, brothers and generally bread winners to alcoholism making them really struggle to survive,” noted Melisa Page, CFWD country director.
She accused local leaders of politicising the exercise while the effects continued to be felt as if nobody cares.
“What we are saying is that; alcoholism and drug abuse is real and a lot of people especially from rural villages and slums continue to suffer unnoticed. Something ought to be done as a matter of urgency because the situation is deteriorating by day,” she said.
This comes barely a day after National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse boss John Mututho called on the local administration to help facilitate the fight on illicit brews.
He called on chiefs and their assistants to deal with the vice in their localities further vowing to ensure dire disciplinary measures are taken against those suspected to be aiding in the illegal business.