NAIROBI, Kenya — The government has proposed a Sh3,000 monthly stipend for village elders across the country in a move aimed at formally recognising their role in supporting local administration and security operations.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo disclosed the plan while appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security during scrutiny of the 2026/2027 budget estimates at Parliament Buildings on Wednesday.
Dr. Omollo told lawmakers the programme would benefit about 110,000 village elders nationwide and would be implemented beginning in the next financial year if Parliament approves the policy and budget allocation.
“The conversation about village elders began in 2016, and the House actually gave directions to the ministry. It has taken almost 10 years to get us here,” said Dr. Omollo.
He said the Ministry of Interior and National Administration had already developed a policy framework and identification criteria for village elders following years of consultations and public participation.
Under the proposal, each village elder would receive Sh3,000 per month, with the ministry indicating that enough funds had been set aside in the budget estimates to sustain the programme for a full financial year.
“Our expectation is that we will be giving a stipend of Sh3,000 to each village elder, and the amount that has been provisioned for will be almost enough to take us through the whole year,” Dr. Omollo said.
The PS added that the government would exclude individuals already benefiting from other state support programmes, such as the older persons cash transfer scheme or community health promoter payments.
Members of the committee welcomed the proposal but argued that the stipend should be increased to align with compensation given to community health promoters.
Committee chairperson Gabriel Tongoyo said the proposal marked a major milestone in recognising village elders, although the amount remained modest.
“We had nothing before, but maybe we should have put them at par with the community health promoters,” said Tongoyo.
Oku Kaunya questioned the legal and administrative framework governing village elders and urged the ministry to clearly define their reporting structure within the National Administration system.
“I hope they are anchored within the National Administration structure. If that is the case, then I would support the idea that they need to have an enhanced amount to Sh5,000, which would be reasonable,” Kaunya said.
Tongoyo acknowledged that raising the stipend to Sh5,000 would increase the annual budgetary allocation to between Sh5.5 billion and Sh6 billion, but said discussions could continue with the Budget Committee and the National Treasury.
“The President has already pronounced himself on this issue during a meeting with chiefs. It is a conversation we can still pick up if there is a way to enhance it to at least Sh5,000,” he said.
Village elders have historically worked voluntarily alongside chiefs and assistant chiefs in handling local disputes, mobilising communities, supporting government programmes, and assisting in grassroots security matters.
