President William Ruto on Tuesday, August 4, hosted village elders from across Kenya at State House, Nairobi, where he announced a package of benefits, including a monthly stipend, Social Health Authority (SHA) health cover and smartphones, as part of the government’s plan to strengthen grassroots administration and improve service delivery.

The consultative meeting brought together senior government officials, among them Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, Members of Parliament and representatives of village elders from across the country.

The meeting focused on the role of village elders in maintaining peace, resolving community disputes, supporting security initiatives and facilitating the implementation of government programmes at the grassroots.

Addressing the gathering, President Ruto said village elders remain a vital link between citizens and the government and deserve greater institutional support to enable them to carry out their responsibilities effectively.

“Village elders are the foundation of our grassroots administration. They help maintain peace, resolve conflicts and connect wananchi with government services,” President Ruto said.

To strengthen their role, the President announced that the government will provide village elders with a monthly allowance, register them under the Social Health Authority (SHA) for healthcare services and issue them with smartphones to improve communication and coordination with national and county administrators.

The smartphones are expected to facilitate faster reporting of security incidents, emergencies and the progress of government programmes at the village level, while the health cover is intended to improve the welfare of the elders as they continue serving their communities.

The announcement builds on the government’s earlier commitment to formally recognize village elders, who have historically served as voluntary community leaders despite playing a central role in conflict resolution, public administration and mobilising citizens for government initiatives. Government officials have previously indicated that more than 106,000 village elders across the country are expected to benefit from the support programme.

Speaking during the meeting, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo described the gathering as a milestone in strengthening collaboration between the national government and grassroots leadership.

“Today is a historic day. For the first time, we have had a series of engagements bringing together village elders from across the country. Their role is critical in strengthening government programmes, promoting peace and serving as the link between communities and the government,” Omollo said.

The State House forum also provided an opportunity for the government to engage village elders on national priorities, including community security, social cohesion and the implementation of development projects.

The meeting comes as the government continues implementing reforms aimed at improving grassroots governance by enhancing coordination between local administrators, community leaders and national institutions.

Beyond governance, the event also attracted political attention after several leaders attending the meeting commented on the country’s evolving political landscape ahead of the 2027 General Election. However, the government’s primary focus remained on strengthening the capacity of village elders to support public administration and improve service delivery at the community level.

The latest measures mark one of the most significant efforts by the Kenya Kwanza administration to formally support village elders, many of whom have for years called for official recognition, financial assistance and access to government services in line with the responsibilities they perform.

Implementation of the monthly stipend, SHA registration and distribution of smartphones is expected to be coordinated by the relevant government ministries and agencies, with further operational details to be communicated in due course.