Kiambu: Members of Parliament (MPs) have pledged support for a Bill that proposes monthly stipends and other recognitions for village elders. Speaking during town hall meetings in Thika and Gatundu, Thika Town, MPs Alice Ng'ang'a and her Ruiru counterpart, Simon King'ara, stated their commitment to ensuring the National Government Coordination (Amendment) Bill is passed into law.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Bill has already reached the Third Reading stage and now awaits deliberation at the Committee of the Whole House. The MPs plan to rally their colleagues to ensure the Bill is passed into law. Ng'ang'a described the proposal as necessary, noting that village elders, as the backbone of grassroots governance for decades, need formal recognition.
'This proposal is long overdue and needs to be passed into law as soon as possible. These people have sacrificed a lot for effective grassroots governance, being the first line of contact between the State and the people,' Ng'ang'a said.
The Bill seeks to provide monthly stipends, uniforms, training, and logistical support to village elders, currently serving on a voluntary basis across the country. King'ara mentioned that the law would not only enhance grassroots governance but also boost community policing and social cohesion. 'Village elders are the unsung heroes of national administration, and it is time their work is valued,' he added.
For decades, village elders have acted as the vital link between citizens and the State, assisting chiefs in mobilizing communities for government programmes, resolving minor disputes, and promoting security. However, their service has remained purely voluntary, with many struggling to sustain themselves despite their central role in administration.
Thika Village Elders' Chairperson Daniel Mwangi supported the bill but advised against making educational qualifications a requirement in amendments, asserting that such a condition might disqualify experienced elders whose value lies in community trust and knowledge over formal schooling.
Lastly, if passed, the legislation would mark the first time Kenya's village elders are formally absorbed into the government structure, bringing long-awaited recognition and compensation to a group that has quietly served the nation for generations.