Former councillors from Elgeyo Marakwet County have renewed calls for the government to compensate them for their years of public service, demanding a one-off gratuity payment of KSh 1.5 million and a monthly pension of KSh 30,000 for surviving members.
Speaking in Iten, the former civic leaders said many of their colleagues have been left languishing in poverty more than a decade after the defunct local authorities were replaced by county governments under the 2010 Constitution.
Led by former councillor Paul Chepkurui, the group lamented that despite playing a key role in grassroots governance for many years, they have been excluded from retirement benefits enjoyed by other public servants.
Chepkurui said many former councillors are now advanced in age and battling health complications, making the delayed implementation of their benefits increasingly urgent.
How much do former councillors want to be paid in pension?
According to the group, a petition seeking compensation for former councillors was submitted to the Senate in 2015. They say senators subsequently recommended that retired councillors receive a KSh 1.5 million send-off package and a monthly stipend of KSh 30,000. However, the recommendations have never been implemented.
“It has been more than 10 years since the Senate passed a resolution that we be paid. The matter was forwarded to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), and that is where it has stalled to date,” said Chepkurui.
The former councillors are now appealing to President William Ruto to intervene and help unlock the long-delayed payments, arguing that time is running out for many of the beneficiaries.
They noted that thousands of former councillors and their dependants across the country stand to benefit from the proposal, with many having died while waiting for the matter to be resolved.
“Former councillors and their families number more than 12,000 people across Kenya, and we are asking the government to consider our welfare. Many have already died, and we are pleading with the President to help those who are still alive,” said former councillor Mathew Chepkurui.
Mathew further urged the Head of State to engage directly with former local authority leaders and listen to their grievances.
“We ask the President to seek out these former leaders and hear our concerns. Pay all the councillors, not just from Elgeyo Marakwet,” he said.
The renewed appeal adds to a long-running campaign by former councillors across the country, who argue that they devoted years of service to their communities and deserve retirement benefits similar to those granted to other public officials.
