President William Ruto announced that all 106,000 village elders across the country will begin receiving a monthly stipend of Sh3,000 next month, acknowledging their vital role in preserving peace and aiding local governance.
Addressing roughly 10,000 village elders at State House in Nairobi on Tuesday, August 4, the president outlined a series of new measures aimed at bolstering their capacity to serve at the grassroots level. He noted that the regular payments will provide reliable support for elders as they mobilize residents, settle disputes, bolster security, and drive government initiatives forward.
To streamline communication and widen local service delivery, the government is equipping every village elder with a smartphone and offering digital training to help them report incidents and coordinate government operations seamlessly.
“Tunataka kuwanunulia ile simu ya kisawasawa… Mumeniambia mnataka ile simu ambayo inapiga picha mambo ikiendelea na mnatuma mpaka na picha. Kama kuna mtu anasumbua watu mnapiga picha na mnatuma,” Ruto said, drawing loud cheers from the audience.
The smartphones will allow elders to document local occurrences and notify the appropriate authorities instantly, transforming traditional community representatives into versatile government agents equipped to handle dynamic local challenges.
Free Medical Cover for Elders and Their Families
Additionally, President Ruto instructed Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi to allocate funds in the upcoming November or December supplementary budget to cover medical insurance for the elders and their families. The move ensures the government pays Social Health Authority (SHA) contributions for the elders, their spouses, and their children.
“I have directed Treasury to make sure that in the supplementary budget, we set aside funds so that our village elders, their spouses and children can have their SHA paid for by the government,” he said, setting January 1, 2027, as the target launch date for the medical coverage.
Policy shifts are also clarifying the administrative standing of these community leaders. By placing village elders directly under the presidency through the provincial administration, the government aims to formalize their position in the national structure and refine coordination with other local officials.
President Ruto pointed out that village elders form an essential bridge between the state and the public, using their close ties to citizens and deep knowledge of local issues to help the government respond efficiently to community needs while uplifting overall elder welfare.
