Should village elders—long seen as the unsung heroes of grassroots governance—be officially recognised, remunerated, and empowered by law?
Kenyans have a chance to express their views on what could be a landmark shift in community leadership and administration tomorrow (Tuesday, 15 April 2025).
The government, has for the past two years, made it an open secret of its desire to formalise the role of village elders and even prepared the Draft National Government Village Administration Policy.
This proposed policy seeks to integrate elders into the National Government Administrative Units, granting them legal authority, clear responsibilities, and financial compensation.
These community figures, who have for generations resolved disputes, mobilised residents, gathered data, and reported threats to peace and security, may soon move from the shadows of informality to official recognition.
Public participation forums have been organised across 10 cluster venues throughout the country to allow citizens to give their feedback on both the policy and its accompanying regulations.
In Nairobi, public input will be gathered at Pangani Girls High School, with the forum catering to residents from Nairobi, Kajiado and Kiambu counties.
Uasin Gishu County’s Multi-Purpose Hall at the County Commissioner’s Office in Eldoret will host participants from Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet, Trans Nzoia, Turkana and Baringo counties. Meanwhile, the Rift Valley Plenary Hall at the Regional Commissioner’s Office in Nakuru will host residents from Bomet, Narok and Kericho.
In the western region, Kisumu’s Mama Grace Anyango Hall will serve the counties of Homa Bay, Migori, Siaya, Kisii and Nyamira. Kakamega’s Magharibi Hall will cater to attendees from Bungoma, Busia and Vihiga. In the central region, the Nyeri Cultural Centre will host forums for residents from Murang’a, Nyandarua, Laikipia, Kirinyaga and Samburu.
Further east, the Meru Technical Centre will facilitate participation from Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Isiolo and Marsabit. In the north-eastern region, the Government Guest House in Garissa will serve the counties of Garissa, Wajir and Mandera. Le Technish Kilimambogo in Machakos will be the venue for residents from Kitui and Makueni.
At the coast, the Tononoka Social Hall in Mombasa will host the forum for citizens from Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, Taita Taveta and Tana River.
For as long as villages have existed, elders have been the default custodians of order—settling conflicts, guiding community values, and serving as liaisons with state agencies.
Despite their pivotal role, they have operated unofficially, unpaid and without legal status, often overshadowed by gazetted National Government Administrative Officers.
This draft policy intends to change that by establishing a structured, accountable and well-resourced village administration system. It proposes the formal mapping and gazettement of villages, the introduction of eligibility requirements for elders, and the assignment of well-defined responsibilities— from maintaining local incident registers to promoting peace and coordinating with government institutions. The policy also includes provisions for training, oversight and logistical support for the elders.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen described the draft as a “transformative milestone in Kenya’s journey towards devolved governance,” noting that the policy aims to narrow the gap between the government and its citizens.
“This will anchor service delivery at the grassroots while promoting inclusivity, unity, and sustainable growth. For a country whose constitution mandates access to services, the formal recognition of the village as the lowest unit of administration is not just constitutional, it is moral,” CS Murkomen said.
Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo echoed this sentiment, praising the elders as the invisible spine of Kenya’s internal security and social cohesion.
“Village elders wield huge influence in community representation and decision-making. They provide the fabric that holds society together,” he said.
