The Kenyan government will implement a series of upgrades for local administrators, including chiefs, assistant chiefs, and village elders, to strengthen service delivery and security across the country.
President William Ruto made the announcement on Monday during a gathering with over 15,000 chiefs and assistant chiefs at State House, Nairobi.
Starting July 1, 2026, all trained chiefs and their deputies will receive promotions in rank.
In addition, the government will equip chiefs with tablets to enhance administrative efficiency, while more than 3,000 new vehicles will be allocated to improve their mobility, allowing faster response to community needs.
Village elders, who play a critical role in local dispute resolution and community coordination, will also be formally recognised under the plan.
More than 106,000 elders nationwide will begin receiving a monthly stipend of KSh3,000, reflecting their contribution to grassroots governance, according to President Ruto.
The announcement forms part of the administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which seeks to decentralise development and empower communities at the local level.
In parallel, the government plans to expand administrative units nationwide. The blueprint includes establishing 24 new sub-counties, 88 divisions, 318 locations, and 675 sub-locations.
These additions aim to bring services closer to citizens and improve coordination between local authorities and security agencies.
Security enhancements are a key component of the initiative, with the construction of 900 new police stations intended to bolster law enforcement coverage across urban and rural areas.
State House sources confirmed that infrastructure development and distribution of resources will be phased in over the next year.
By formalising the roles of village elders and upgrading chiefs’ operational tools, the government intends to increase accountability and efficiency at the grassroots level.
The programme represents a continuation of Kenya’s long-standing strategy of using local administrators to implement national priorities, including community development, conflict resolution, and public safety.