Sh3,000 not enough, say Marsabit elders

Some village elders in Marsabit County have asked the government to increase the monthly stipend they receive from Sh3,000 to between Sh10,000 and Sh15,000.

Speaking to Radio Jangwani, the elders said the current amount is not enough to cover the costs of serving their communities.

They made the appeal while taking part in an exercise to verify their names on the list of beneficiaries. Some of them have not received any payment because of errors in their payment documents.

An elder from Moyale Manyatta said he has still not been paid and had come to correct his details so that he can start receiving the money. He said he would like the amount raised to Sh10,000 or Sh15,000.

The elders say that before the government began paying them, they used their own money to buy airtime and mobile data, and to pay fares when travelling long distances to serve residents.

An elder from Jaldesa village said an increase would allow them to top up airtime and cover transport costs when going to help people who need their assistance. However, he urged the government not to forget youth and women, who also represent their manyattas. He thanked the President for the payments.

Marsabit Central Deputy County Commissioner Stephen Kiloi said today’s exercise was meant to re-verify the names of elders whose details were collected in July but who have not yet received payment.

According to national figures cited, the government has registered about 106,000 elders who receive Sh3,000 each month.