Village elders across the country could soon begin earning a monthly stipend of Sh3,000 under a new government proposal aimed at formally recognising their role in grassroots administration and security.
Interior Principal Secretary told MPs on Wednesday that about 110,000 village elders stand to benefit from the programme if Parliament approves the policy and budgetary allocation in the 2026/2027 financial year.
Appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, Dr Omollo said the Ministry of Interior had already developed a policy framework to guide the identification and engagement of village elders following nearly a decade of consultations.
“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,” he said.
He added that the proposed allocation is sufficient to sustain the stipend throughout the financial year, noting that the initiative would, for the first time, formally integrate village elders into the national administrative structure.
Under the plan, only elders not already benefiting from other government programmes—such as the social safety net for the elderly or community health promoter schemes—will qualify for the stipend.
However, lawmakers raised concerns over the proposed amount, arguing that it falls short of expectations given the critical role played by village elders in maintaining local order and supporting chiefs.
Committee chairperson said the stipend should ideally match what community health promoters receive.
“We had nothing before, but maybe we should have put them at par with the community health promoters,” said Mr Tongoyo.
Teso North MP called for clarity on the legal and administrative framework governing village elders, stressing the need for a clear reporting structure within the National Administration.
“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,” said Mr Kaunya.
Mr Tongoyo acknowledged that increasing the stipend to Sh5,000 would significantly raise the annual budget to between Sh5.5 billion and Sh6 billion but noted that discussions could still be held with the Budget Committee and the National Treasury.
He further revealed that the President had already expressed support for the initiative during a past meeting with chiefs, signalling the government’s commitment to formalising the role of village elders.
Despite the concerns, MPs welcomed the proposal as a landmark step towards recognising village elders, who have historically served voluntarily at the grassroots level, often acting as the first point of contact in matters of security, dispute resolution, and government coordination.
