President William Ruto has announced a new support package for village elders across Kenya, including a monthly stipend, smartphones, training and health insurance cover.
The Head of State said the measures were aimed at recognizing the contribution of village elders in grassroots leadership, community mobilization and implementation of government programmes.
Speaking during an engagement with village elders on August 4, Ruto said the government had formally recognized their role by introducing financial support and additional resources to help them execute their duties more effectively.
“For generations, you have mobilised communities for vaccination, census, and voter registration; supported school enrolment, drought relief, and disaster response; advanced Nyumba Kumi and community policing; and identified vulnerable households often without payment, but always with patriotism,” said Ruto
Ruto Announces Stipend for Village Elders
The head of state announced that all village elders across the country will receive a monthly stipend of KSh 3,000.
The President said the payment should not be viewed as a reward for patriotism, but as recognition of the services village elders provide to communities.
“And beginning this month, beginning today, every village elder will receive a stipend. This is not a price for your patriotism, patriotism has no price, this is a sign as the government for respect for our nation Kenya to you to recognize your contribution in leadership,” said Ruto.
Village elders have traditionally played a key role in communities by assisting national government administrators, helping resolve disputes, promoting peace, supporting security initiatives and mobilizing residents for government programmes.
Unlike chiefs and assistant chiefs who are employed within the National Government Administration structure, village elders have largely served as community representatives without a regular government salary.
Government to Provide Smartphones and Training
Besides the monthly stipend, President Ruto announced that village elders will receive digital gadgets to improve communication and enable them to participate more effectively in government programmes.
He said funds would be allocated through the national budget to purchase the devices for village elders across the country.
Ruto also announced that village elders will undergo training to strengthen their skills and improve their ability to serve residents.
Village Elders and Families to Receive SHA Health Cover
President Ruto further directed the National Treasury to make budgetary provisions for the health insurance coverage of village elders and their families under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
He instructed Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi to ensure that funds are included in the upcoming budget allocations expected in November and December.
According to the President, the government’s plan is to ensure that all village elders and their families are covered under SHA by January 1.
The health cover is intended to reduce the financial burden faced by village elders when accessing medical services and provide them with greater social protection.
Murkomen Announces Increased Funding for Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs
The government has increased funding for chiefs and assistant chiefs as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots administration.
Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the increase in Authority to Incur Expenditure (AIE) allocations would provide local administrators with more resources to effectively coordinate government activities and serve communities.
Speaking during an engagement with village elders at State House, Nairobi, Murkomen said the government had raised the AIE allocation for assistant chiefs from KSh15,000 to KSh30,000, while chiefs will now receive KSh50,000, up from the previous KSh30,000.
“In the first quarter of this financial year, we have increased the Authority to Incur Expenditure (AIE) allocation for assistant chiefs from KSh15,000 to KSh30,000, and for chiefs from KSh30,000 to KSh50,000,” said Murkomen.
The AIE funds are government allocations provided to public officers to support official operations and administrative duties.
The money is intended to facilitate activities such as community meetings, coordination of government programmes, public awareness campaigns, and other administrative responsibilities carried out by chiefs and assistant chiefs.
Murkomen said the increased funding would help strengthen the capacity of National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) to respond to the needs of citizens and improve coordination between the national government and communities.
The announcement came alongside the government’s decision to formally recognize and support village elders through a new policy framework
He also revealed that the government had deployed additional security officers to support the National Government Administration Officers.
According to the CS, 6,000 officers from the National Government Administration Police Unit (NGAPU) had been deployed to 16 sub-counties to enhance security and support administrative operations.
The CS urged chiefs, assistant chiefs, and village elders to serve all citizens fairly while promoting national cohesion and upholding the values and principles of the Constitution.
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