Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced increased budget allocations for local administrators, ongoing promotions, and plans to train village elders in digital literacy and leadership.
Speaking on Tuesday at State House in Nairobi during a nationwide gathering of village elders hosted by President William Ruto, Murkomen confirmed that the ministry has already completed training for chiefs and assistant chiefs. He noted that the government has implemented the president’s directive on raising operational funds in the current budget.
“We have finished training the chiefs and assistant chiefs. The promotion process that you announced here is ongoing, and we are announcing these opportunities to promote chiefs and assistant chiefs,” he said.
“The directive that the President issued on AIE on chiefs and assistant chiefs, in the current budget, they will receive Sh15,000 to Sh30,000, while chiefs’ allocations will increase from Sh30,000 to Sh50,000,” he added.
The Cabinet Secretary disclosed that the government will roll out digital literacy and leadership training for village elders across the country. Addressing security measures, Murkomen noted that the rollout of the National Government Administration Police Unit (NGAPU) continues to advance, with 16 sub-counties already receiving officers.
“We shall also train all the village elders on digital literacy and leadership across the country. You also announced that we must have the National Government Administration Police Unit operationalized. I want to announce that 16 sub-counties have acquired NGAPU officers,” he said.
Murkomen indicated that about 60,000 police officers will graduate soon to strengthen security in sub-counties nationwide.
“We expect the graduation will happen soon, and it will strengthen the police officers in all the sub-counties. Additional DCI anti-narcotics officers will also be deployed nationwide,” he said.
The Interior Secretary called on elders across the country to take a leading role in combating tribalism, political incitement, and the recruitment of youth to incite violence during political activities. He urged them to champion national unity as the country approaches the 2027 General Election and to reject political leaders who divide citizens along ethnic lines.
“Let us reject all those who are preaching tribalism, dividing the people, and spreading hatred,” Murkomen said. “We must ensure we are promoting values and principles of our Constitution. I request you, our elders, to become the cornerstone of the unity of our republic and shun politics and leaders that spread division and tribalism.”
Closing his remarks, Murkomen urged elders to collaborate closely with security agencies to prevent politicians from exploiting young people in political confrontations.
