Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo, on Wednesday, appeared before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security to scrutinize the 2026/2027 budget estimates.
Omollo told the committee that the country has around 110,000 village elders supporting the national government at the grassroots levels.
According to Omollo, the Ministry of Interior has already developed a policy framework and criteria for the identification of village elders, following years 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,” said Omollo.
Earlier in April 2025, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen championed the policy, stating that it could see Kenya’s village elders receive financial recognition for their vital role in 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, peace-building and security operations,” Murkomen said.
On Wednesday, the Interior PS told parliament the stipends would support elders, especially those not benefiting from other state support programmes, such as the social safety net scheme for the elderly or community health promoter initiatives.
However, members of the parliamentary committee led by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo pushed for an increase in the proposed stipend, stating that it should match what community health promoters receive. They proposed Ksh.5,000 stipend for the village elders.
The PS noted that the amount provisioned for them would be able to sustain the programme for an entire year.
Lawmakers welcomed the initiative, applauding the government’s effort to recognize and facilitate village elders who are frequently called upon to mediate disputes, address security concerns and foster social cohesion.
During the session, Teso North MP Oku Kaunya sought clarification on the legal and administrative structure under which village elders would operate, saying the framework should clearly define their reporting hierarchy within the National Administration system.
