Gov’t Seeks Public Views on Plan to Recognise, Pay Village Elders
Kenyans are being urged to participate in nationwide forums to voice their opinions on a proposed policy that seeks to formally recognise village elders—granting them legal status, defined responsibilities, and financial compensation.
Scheduled for Tuesday, April 15, 2025, these public participation forums mark a major step toward reshaping grassroots governance in Kenya.
For decades, village elders have played a crucial but unofficial role in their communities—mediating disputes, promoting peace, collecting local data, and alerting authorities to security threats. Despite their importance, they’ve received no official recognition or support from the government.
The Draft National Government Village Administration Policy seeks to address this by formally integrating elders into the national administrative framework. The policy proposes gazettement of elders, standardized training, and provision of tools to support their community work.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen hailed the proposal as a “transformative milestone in Kenya’s journey towards devolved governance.” He emphasized that recognising village elders will not only enhance service delivery but also promote inclusivity and unity.
“This will anchor service delivery at the grassroots while promoting inclusivity, unity, and sustainable growth. For a country whose constitution mandates access to services, the formal recognition of the village as the lowest unit of administration is not just constitutional, it is moral,” Murkomen stated.
Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration, Raymond Omollo, echoed the sentiment, calling village elders “the invisible spine of Kenya’s internal security and social cohesion.”
“Village elders wield huge influence in community representation and decision-making. They provide the fabric that holds society together,” he said.
If implemented, the policy will introduce clear eligibility requirements for village elders, define their roles, and establish oversight and logistical support systems. It aims to create a structured, well-resourced network of village leadership that complements existing administrative systems.
The policy could mark the end of informal reliance on elders, legitimising their contributions and offering financial recognition for their work.
Public participation forums will be held across ten cluster venues:
- Nairobi Region: Pangani Girls High School (serving Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado)
- North Rift: Uasin Gishu Multi-Purpose Hall, Eldoret (serving Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet, Trans Nzoia, Turkana, Baringo)
- South Rift: Rift Valley Plenary Hall, Nakuru (serving Bomet, Narok, Kericho)
- Western Kenya: Magharibi Hall, Kakamega (serving Bungoma, Busia, Vihiga)
- Lake Region: Mama Grace Anyango Hall, Kisumu (serving Homa Bay, Migori, Siaya, Kisii, Nyamira)
- Central Kenya: Nyeri Cultural Centre (serving Murang’a, Nyandarua, Laikipia, Kirinyaga, Samburu)
- Upper Eastern: Meru Technical Centre (serving Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Isiolo, Marsabit)
- North Eastern: Government Guest House, Garissa (serving Garissa, Wajir, Mandera)
- Lower Eastern: Le Technish Kilimambogo, Machakos (serving Kitui, Makueni)
- Coast Region: Tononoka Social Hall, Mombasa (serving Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Taita Taveta, Tana River)
The government has encouraged citizens to participate actively, emphasizing that their input will shape a policy that may redefine grassroots leadership in Kenya for generations to come.
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Gov’t Seeks Public Views on Plan to Recognise, Pay Village Elders