President William Ruto has introduced significant reforms aimed at enhancing the welfare and efficiency of Kenya's village elders. During a meeting at State House, Nairobi, on August 4, 2026, the Head of State announced that all village elders will receive monthly allowances, comprehensive health insurance under the Social Health Authority (SHA), and smartphones to aid communication and reporting.
Kenya has over 106,000 registered village elders across approximately 9,700 sub-locations. These elders serve as vital links between citizens and the national government. Recognizing their role, President Ruto instructed Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi to allocate funds in the upcoming Supplementary Budget to cover the elders’ health insurance premiums for the November-December cycle.
In addition to financial support, the government will provide training in artificial intelligence and digital literacy to equip village elders with modern administrative skills. Chiefs and assistant chiefs will also receive smartphones and other digital tools to improve operational efficiency.
President Ruto further announced that the work of village elders and chiefs will now be directly overseen by the Office of the President, reinforcing the grassroots administrative structure. To institutionalize these changes, the Ministry of Interior has been tasked with drafting a Sessional Paper to embed the reforms into law, preventing future administrations from reversing the benefits.
Meanwhile, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen revealed that National Government Administration Police Unit (NGAPU) officers have been deployed in 16 counties, with plans for a nationwide rollout. This move aims to strengthen security and administrative coordination at the grassroots level.
