The Senate Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare Committee Chaired by West Pokot Senator Julius Murgor today met with the Cabinet Secretaries for Labour & Social Protection, and National Treasury to receive their responses on the Statement sought by Sen. Enoch Wambua concerning the payment of one-off honorarium to former councilors.

Labour and Social Protection CS. Hon. Florence Bore responding to the question of whether the Ministry would consider enrolling the former councilors to the Cash Transfer Programs stated that once resources are availed to the Ministry to carry out registration of Old Persons Inua Jamii Cash Transfer Programs, the eligible Former Councilors will be called to register. 

Prof. Njuguna Ndung'u, CS for National Treasury explained the status of implementation of the payments by the Treasury as resolved by the Senate on 18th October, 2018, following recommendations of the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare Report on a Petition by former Councillors, of the one-off token of Kshs200,000 each to former councillors for their dedicated service to the country. He informed the Committee that his Ministry and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection have jointly drawn a Cabinet Memorandum for transmittal to the Cabinet on the aforementioned matters. Subject to decision of the Cabinet, the National Treasury will factor the payment estimated at Kshs. 2,601,816,000 in the FY 2023/2024 budget. 

On the question of whether the Government would consider enrolling the former councillors and their spouses to the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) scheme to benefit from treatment in their respective county health facilities, Prof. Njuguna Ndung'u stated that the Ministry of National Treasury and Economic Planning in consultation with relevant stakeholders will facilitate discussions on proposal for inclusion of the former councilors in the Universal Health Coverage under the purview of NHIF. 

In attendance was a delegation from the National Former Councilors Forum led by their Chairman, Dr. Geoffrey Gitau. 

Members Present were:

Sen. George Mbugua-Vice Chairperson 

Sen.Rtd. Justice Stewart Madzayo,MP- Member

Sen. Mohamed Faki-Member

Sen.Miraj Abdulrahman Member

Sen. Alexander Mundigi, MP- Member

Sen. Crystal Asige, MP- Member

Sen. Johnes Mwaruma- Friend of the Committee