President William Ruto has unveiled an extensive plan to strengthen grassroots administration, including promotions, new equipment, and financial support for chiefs, assistant chiefs, and village elders across the country.
Speaking at State House, Nairobi, where he addressed more than 15,000 chiefs and assistant chiefs, President Ruto said all trained chiefs and their assistants will be promoted by one rank effective July 1, 2026 as part of his administration’s initiative to enhance local governance.
To improve efficiency and accountability at the community level, the President announced that all chiefs will be issued with tablets, while over 3,000 new vehicles will be procured to boost their mobility and service delivery.
In a significant shift aimed at recognising grassroots leadership, the Head of State said Kenya’s 106,000 village elders will, for the first time, begin receiving a monthly stipend of KSh3,000 starting July 1, 2026.
He noted that the elders play a critical role in community coordination, dispute resolution, and data collection.
President Ruto also outlined progress under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), saying the government will move to operationalise 24 new sub-counties, 88 divisions, 318 locations, and 675 sub-locations. Additionally, the administration plans to construct 900 new police stations to strengthen security across the country.
He said these measures demonstrate the government’s commitment to empowering local administrators and ensuring that development efforts reach every corner of Kenya.
