Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Thursday welcomed the government's decision to allocate Sh3.9 billion for a monthly stipend for village elders, describing it as the fulfilment of a key promise made during the national security consultations he conducted across the country.
Speaking after Treasury presented the budget highlights, Murkomen said the initiative was born out of commitments made during the Jukwaa La Usalama engagements, where communities consistently called for the formal recognition and support of local administrators who play a crucial role in maintaining security at the grassroots level.
"During the Jukwaa La Usalama engagements, we pledged to provide our village elders with a stipend to facilitate their work, which is crucial in strengthening grassroots security and administration. We have fulfilled this promise,” Murkomen said.
He confirmed that from July 1, about 110,000 village elders across the country will begin receiving the stipend, marking the first time the group has been formally funded through the national budget.
Backed by Sh3.96 billion in the 2026/27 budget, the programme is expected to further integrate village elders into Kenya's security and governance framework. Village elders currently play a largely informal but critical role by assisting chiefs and assistant chiefs, supporting community policing through the Nyumba Kumi initiative, mediating local disputes, and mobilising communities for development and security interventions.
Under the new framework, individuals selected as Village Administrative Elders must receive public endorsement, have lived continuously in their villages for at least five years, demonstrate a deep understanding of local culture, and meet the integrity standards set out under Chapter Six of the Constitution.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, while presenting the budget statement, defended the increased allocations to the security sector, arguing that peace and stability remain essential for economic growth and national development.
"A safe and stable environment is indispensable for investment, trade and economic growth,” Mbadi said, presenting a broad security package that includes Sh252.1 billion for defence, Sh144.7 billion for the National Police Service, Sh64 billion for the National Intelligence Service, Sh63.9 billion for internal security and national administration, and Sh42.6 billion for prison services.
He also outlined targeted investments aimed at strengthening security operations, including Sh13 billion for leasing police vehicles, Sh7 billion for police modernisation programmes, and Sh1 billion for upgrading forensic infrastructure.
Mbadi noted that the inclusion of village elders in the national budget signals a policy shift towards strengthening community-based governance as an integral part of the country's security system.
" I have also proposed 3.9 billion for stipend to village elders for the first time. Something that has been talked about for years to enhance local administrative capacities to appreciate,” Mbadi said.
Principal Secretary for Internal Security Raymond Omollo has previously told Parliament that the stipend programme has been in development for nearly a decade following extensive consultations and policy formulation.
Omollo said the ministry established a structured framework for identifying legitimate village elders after years of public participation and institutional review, noting that discussions around the initiative date back to 2016.
“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.
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