Kenya Chiefs to Get Tablets and Vehicles as Ruto Announces Nationwide Stipends for Village Elders
President William Ruto has announced a sweeping plan to strengthen grassroots governance, including promotions for all chiefs and assistant chiefs, distribution of tablets and vehicles, and monthly stipends for village elders. The reforms, unveiled on Tuesday, December 2, are aimed at improving accountability, service delivery, and security across Kenya.
Addressing more than 15,000 chiefs and assistant chiefs at State House, Nairobi, President Ruto said the government’s reforms would recognise the critical role grassroots administrators play in national development.
“Chiefs and assistant chiefs are enablers of our country’s development plan at the grassroots. We are, therefore, promoting all trained chiefs and their assistants by a rank effective July 01, 2026,” he announced.
Under the new measures, all chiefs will receive tablets to improve administrative efficiency and service delivery. The government will also procure more than 3,000 vehicles to enhance mobility for these officers in performing their duties.
In a significant move to acknowledge the work of village elders, President Ruto announced that the 106,000 village elders nationwide will begin receiving a monthly stipend of KSh3,000 starting July 1, 2026. “Our more than 106,000 village elders across the country will be recognised, and put on a monthly stipend of KSh3,000 beginning July 1, 2026,” he said.
The President further outlined plans to operationalize 24 new sub-counties, 88 divisions, 318 locations, and 675 sub-locations. These steps, he explained, are intended to expand administrative coverage and bring government services closer to citizens. In addition, the government will construct 900 new police stations to bolster security infrastructure nationwide.
Earlier on Tuesday, President Ruto instructed the Ministry of Interior to begin procuring electric vehicles for the National Police Service. He emphasised that transitioning to electric mobility would help address persistent fuel shortages that disrupt police operations while reducing government fuel expenditure.
“We will agree on how police vehicles will no longer run out of fuel. We now have electric vehicles that can accomplish the task. We will purchase vehicles that run on electricity, allowing us to eliminate our use of fuel. Minister, go and find electric vehicles so we can buy them for our officers,” he said, tasking Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen with identifying suitable models.
The President’s announcements form part of a broader push to modernize public service delivery and enhance security operations throughout Kenya, highlighting the government’s commitment to both administrative efficiency and grassroots empowerment.
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Kenya Chiefs to Get Tablets and Vehicles as Ruto Announces Nationwide Stipends for Village Elders