President William Ruto while hosting National Government Village Administrative Elders at the Statehouse. Photo Courtesy. 
By Andrew Mbuva.
President William Ruto has announced a monthly facilitation allowance of KSh3,000 for more than 106,000 village elders across the country in a move aimed at strengthening grassroots governance and bringing government services closer to citizens.
Speaking at State House, Nairobi, during a meeting with National Government Village Administrative Elders, the President said the formal onboarding of village elders into the National Government Administration system marks a historic milestone in recognising their longstanding role in community leadership and national development.
President Ruto described village elders as the backbone of Kenyan communities, saying they have for generations served as custodians of peace, mediators in conflicts, protectors of families and the vital link between citizens and the government. He noted that despite serving largely on a voluntary basis, they have continued to mobilise communities for vaccination campaigns, national censuses, voter registration, disaster response, school enrolment and community policing.
The Head of State said the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda can only succeed through trusted grassroots leadership, adding that village elders play a critical role in helping wananchi understand and participate in government programmes such as Taifa Care, affordable housing, agricultural productivity initiatives, digital opportunities and environmental conservation.
Beginning this month, every village elder officially onboarded into the administration system will receive a monthly facilitation of KSh3,000. President Ruto clarified that the allowance is not a salary or payment for patriotism but rather a recognition of the invaluable service village elders have rendered to the nation over the years.
He urged the elders to uphold integrity, reject corruption, protect vulnerable members of society and serve all Kenyans without discrimination. The President reminded them that their authority is founded on the trust of the communities they serve and challenged them to safeguard that confidence through fairness and honesty.
President Ruto also called on the elders to spearhead a nationwide conversation on the proposed National Development Charter, saying the initiative seeks to translate the constitutional promise of quality healthcare, housing, clean water, education, food security and social protection into tangible benefits for every Kenyan household.
He challenged the village elders to mobilise communities around the country's development agenda by encouraging school attendance, promoting healthcare uptake, supporting productive farming and enterprise, strengthening environmental stewardship and fostering peace and national unity.
"As the nation honours you, honour the trust of the people," the President said, urging the elders to be at the forefront of transforming national policies into meaningful progress in every village.
