They councilors want an insurance cover apart from being exempted from paying parking fees in their respective counties. [Photo/ edaily.co.ke]
Over 12,000 former councilors have demanded that government pays them Sh18 billion send-off package.
The payoff was recommended by the Senate in 2016. Senate said government owed the former ward representatives the cash going back to more than four decades.Besides being paid Sh1.5 million each, they also want government to pay them a Sh30,000 monthly stipend.Besides, they want an insurance cover apart from being exempted from paying parking fees in their respective counties.They spoke on Monday during a meeting in Kisumu that brought together all the national representatives.The former councilors’ secretary, Mordeka Mwanga while reading recommendations said they had been neglected by successive governments as former presidents and MPs enjoy their benefits.“Our matter is still lying with the Cabinet Secretary for Devolution. We have waited up to date and nothing has happened,” Mwanga said.He said they have served the country since 1963 and were entitled to benefits that other legislators receive.The Senate Labour Committee in 2016 recommended the payment to the former elected leaders for their welfare as majority of them had unreliable wages during their tenure.Mwanga said their members will only back a presidential candidate with their interests at heart.“We will not allow leaders to use us like toilet paper. Whoever will scratch our backs, we will reciprocate by voting for them be NASA or Jubilee,” Mwanga, a former Butere-Mumias County Council chair said.“These parties must look for our votes countrywide, but we will vote only those who value us.”