Govt Proposes Ksh 3,000 Monthly Stipend for Village Elders

The Ministry of Interior and National Administration has proposed paying 110,000 village elders a Ksh 3,000 monthly stipend to recognize their role in grassroots security and conflict resolution.

Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo presented the plan to the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security on Wednesday while defending the 2026/2027 budget estimates.

He said the ministry had developed a policy framework and criteria for identifying village elders following almost a decade of consultations and public participation.

“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,” Omollo told MPs.

Financial Recognition for Village Elders

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen had earlier championed the policy in April 2025, arguing that village elders deserve financial recognition for maintaining peace and order at the grassroots level.

“We can collectively decide how we are going to take care of our village elders and perhaps give them some honorarium that will make them proud as they continue supporting us in conflict resolution, peacebuilding and security operations,” Murkomen said.

Omollo told the committee that the stipends would target elders not already benefiting from other state support programmes, including the social safety net scheme for the elderly and community health promoter initiatives.

He noted that the amount provisioned in the budget would sustain the programme for a full year.

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Village Elder Stipend Increase Proposal

Lawmakers welcomed the proposal but immediately pushed for a higher rate, and the committee, chaired by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, argued that the stipend should match what community health promoters receive and proposed Ksh 5,000 per month for village elders.

MPs said the increase would better reflect the demands placed on elders who mediate disputes, address security concerns, and foster social cohesion in their communities.

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During the session, Teso North MP Oku Kaunya sought clarification on the legal and administrative structure under which the village elders would operate.

Omollo said the ministry had already drafted guidelines to guide identification and deployment.

The committee is expected to make recommendations on the proposal before the 2026/2027 budget is finalized.

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