By M, KNA
Principal Secretary for Interior Security and National Administration, Raymond Omollo, has said that the government has put in place measures to formally recognise village elders as National Government Administrative Officers.
Speaking during a national identification card (ID) registration drive at Masara Primary School in Suna West Sub County today, Saturday, Omollo said that village elders play a critical role in the security structure at the grassroots to ensure the society is safe, peaceful and lives in harmony.
“Our village elders perform a critical role at the grassroots level and together with local administration, form a security umbrella that provides a secure and enabling environment to live, work and do business. It is therefore equally essential to recognise their efforts by providing a stipend to appreciate their efforts,” said Omollo.
He said the village elders continue to play a vital role in the decision-making process, community engagement, and rural community development in making society at the lowest level a better place to live and work.
The proposal to award village elders a monthly stipend of between Sh3,000 and Sh5,000 is part of the National Government Coordination (Amendment) Bill, 2024, that aims to formalise their roles and responsibilities at the lowest point in the community.
Government plans to allocate at least Sh2.7 billion annually to support the village elders, for the significant role they play in local administration and community development.
The stipend aligns with President William Ruto’s agenda of Bottom-Up Transformation Agenda (BETA) that aims to uplift low-income earners as well as improve the welfare of the population.
In November 2025, President Ruto pointed out that the decision to award a stipend to village elders will be effective from June 1, 2026, after the revision of the annual budget to ensure more effective security administration across the country.
Omollo urged the youths who have attained 18 years to take up the initiative to acquire the crucial national identity document that will enable them to access government services as well as vote in the coming 2027 General Election.
He told the youths that they can only get the right leadership if they fully participate in the matters of the country by casting their vote.
“I want to encourage the youths to take up the initiative of taking up their IDs and registering as voters to elect the candidates of their choice, and exercise their civic duty by electing the best leaders that can champion their interests both at the county and the national government levels.
The PS urged Migori political class to speak in one voice and shun political violence to provide an enabling environment for economic development to take root in the county.
Omollo, who later attended a church function at Sota SDA Church in Nyatike Sub-County for economic empowerment, said that the national government has invested Sh21 billion in Affordable Housing Projects in the county, with the Mabera Affordable Housing Project already at 98 per cent completion.
Present during the function were Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko, Migori Woman Representative Fatuma Muhammed, Suna West MP, Peter Masara and Uriri MP, Mark Nyamita.