Coast: Coast residents have welcomed the transformative move by the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to introduce the Draft National Government Village Administration Policy that is poised to bolster service delivery and strengthen governance at the village level.
According to Kenya News Agency, the responsive policy, which is undergoing nationwide public participation, seeks to provide a framework for the recognition and facilitation of Village Administrative Elders for efficient service delivery. Speaking at the Coast region public participation forum at the Tononoka hall, Abdallah Muhammad, a resident of Jomvu, believes that the recognition of Village Elders will herald a new beginning in service delivery and security, as they play pivotal roles in society that cannot be gainsaid.
He says that the Village Elders always have their fingers on the pulse of all incidents in their localities; thus, they deserve recognition and a stipend to boost their morale. ‘They are the first responders in major incidents before authorities arrive. They deserve motivation like others who sit in offices and are paid by the government. The Village Elders work tirelessly day and night to understand and resolve problems facing the locals,’ Muhammad stated.
He further emphasized that a government stipend could deter unethical practices such as land fraud or incitement in communal conflicts. Muhammad Argamso, a resident of Galledeytu Sub-County, Tana River, says the Village Elders structure has been in existence in many communities for years and are doing the lord’s work compared with those who are in government payrolls.
‘This move will strengthen security and foster peace in the grassroots,’ he said, urging the elders to be given priority in the Village Elders recruitment because of their wisdom and tenacity. The policy, he expounded, will bolster security in Arid and semi-Arid areas frequently plagued with conflicts because of scarce resources, especially during drought epochs.
Mombasa County Commissioner (CC) Mohammed Noor urged the participants to freely express their insights on the draft policy to be captured and incorporated in the final policies after the countrywide public participation forums. The CC noted that since Kenya attained her independence in 1963, the Village Elders have not been recognized by all post-colonial regimes, but the current administration is keen to integrate them into the National Government Administration structures as the first contact with the public when seeking services.
‘When an incident occurs, the first person to call is the Village Elder. This government has decided to recognize and introduce them to the security framework to be at the lowest level at the grassroots to serve the public to improve the security,’ the CC stated. He explains that the draft policy clearly defines a Village Elder and their role. The Village Elders were lauded for their dedication in resolving family and communal disputes.
On security, especially in the wake of the reemergence of criminal gangs in the region, the CC disclosed that the Village Elders, working in tandem with Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs, provide crucial information and intelligence that leads to the identification and arrest of the miscreants. ‘Their recognition will add a fresh impetus as they will be part of the security structure, and if they will get a stipend, it will enhance efficiency.’
The CC further elucidated that the draft National Government Coordination Regulations, 2025, will guide the creation of administrative units and their boundaries.