Unsung Heroes: Inside the World of Village Elders

In Kenya, village headmen have played a crucial role in local governance since independence. Despite their jobs being unpaid, they lead their villages with authority, accountability, fairness, and stewardship. Always in touch with the people, they often find themselves called upon to solve problems or settle disputes. Interestingly, since they don’t have designated offices, they turn their homes into makeshift offices where they receive and settle disputes, acting as ‘magistrates’ in their villages.

During a special sitting with Kiambu TV, the headmen explained the steps they follow when a villager seeks their assistance, ensuring the process adheres to the law. “The process begins with the individual introducing themselves and stating the area they are from, so we can confirm that the case is indeed from our village,” they said. Despite their commitment to resolving disputes, they face numerous challenges, including accusations of favoritism, hatred, and insults after making judgments. “We don’t give up or abandon our responsibilities because we believe we were anointed to serve people. That’s what keeps us going,” they added.

They have appealed to the national government to provide them with documents or badges to avoid embarrassment when other authorities are present. They often find it difficult to answer who they are.

Following the national government’s recent announcement to provide a small financial token of up to KSh. 7,000 monthly through the Ministry of Interior to support their work, village headmen have expressed their appreciation for this initiative. They noted that the funds would help offset the costs they have been incurring for airtime and transportation when fulfilling their duties.

The Ministry of Interior announced that village headmen will begin receiving a monthly stipend of KSh. 2,000 as part of the initial phase of a new program. The proposed reforms aim to amend the National Government Coordination Act No. 1 of 2013, which will officially designate villages as the fundamental administrative unit of the government. This amendment will also recognize village elders as National Government Administrative Officers, formalizing their role within the government structure.

The village headmen have requested the Kiambu County government, led by Governor Kimani Wamatangi, to collaborate more closely with them in service delivery. They mentioned that they receive numerous grievances from the residents and would appreciate regular meetings with the governor to discuss the issues occurring at the grassroots level.

Mwaura Kimani