Explainer: How New Tools and Recognition Are Reviving the Role of Kenya’s Chiefs

Kenya, 3 December 2025 - Across rural Kenya, a quiet yet unmistakable transformation is under way.

Chiefs, long used to operating with scant resources, dwindling budgets and little recognition, now report feeling newly empowered and energised.

The Kenya Kwanza administration’s drive to upgrade National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) is altering not just their daily operations, but also their sense of purpose.

President William Ruto has consistently framed the reforms as central to connecting government to ordinary Kenyans.

“A government that cannot reach the village cannot hope to earn the trust of its people. Chiefs are our eyes, ears, and hands where life actually happens,” he said in a meeting with chiefs in state house.

The reforms—spanning increased operational funding, digital tablets, enhanced police support, and formal recognition of village elders—have landed directly in the hands of officers who have historically been the state’s frontline actors.

For many chiefs, the result is a combination of renewed confidence and heightened expectation.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has stressed that modernisation is long overdue.

“Chiefs are the heartbeat of local security and development. They cannot deliver solutions using pen and paper from decades ago. These tools give them speed, accuracy, and authority,” he said

Digital tablets have been particularly transformative.

Chiefs report that reporting on drought, crime patterns, and vulnerable households is now much faster.

One officer in Kitui explained, “We can now send information in real-time to the county and national offices. Decisions that used to take weeks now happen within hours.”

Enhanced police support has also given chiefs more confidence in tackling disputes, domestic violence, and land conflicts.

The presence of uniformed officers ensures chiefs can act decisively without personal risk.

Interior Permanent Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo notes the broader significance: “Empowering chiefs is not just about administration; it is about restoring public trust in government services. When officers are equipped and respected, communities respond positively.”

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The formal integration and stipends for village elders has created a more robust local support network.

Chiefs report that elders now assist in verifying reports, mediating disputes, and mobilising communities—a structure that makes governance more effective and responsive.

Analyst Tom Mboya has noted that these reforms echo past periods when chiefs were central to both governance and political communication, particularly during the era of the second president of Kenya, the late Daniel Toroitich arap Moi.

Chiefs were highly visible actors, mobilizing communities for public events, relaying government programmes, and ensuring the state’s presence reached every household.

While today’s reforms prioritise service delivery over political mobilisation, the increase in visibility is unmistakable.

President Ruto reinforced this dual purpose: “Empowered chiefs do more than report—they build trust, foster dialogue, and ensure every citizen feels seen by their government.”

Chiefs say residents now approach their offices with renewed confidence, viewing them not just as administrative posts, but as effective centres for problem-solving.

With greater authority comes greater expectations.

Chiefs acknowledge that communities now demand faster interventions and more accurate reporting. Political observers also caution that enhanced administrative influence carries political undertones, especially near elections.

Chiefs have historically operated at the intersection of governance and politics—a balance that remains delicate.

For now, the dominant sentiment is renewed motivation.

Officers who once struggled with minimal support now feel acknowledged, equipped, and relevant. Murkomen captured this mood succinctly: “This is about professional dignity. When chiefs are respected and resourced, they can serve their communities with pride and efficiency.”

PS Omollo echoed the optimism: “We are witnessing a renaissance in grassroots administration. Chiefs are no longer just names on a list—they are active leaders shaping the daily lives of their communities.”

As the reforms continue to roll out, the key question is whether this momentum can be sustained. For the moment, chiefs feel empowered, motivated, and newly relevant—qualities that could redefine Kenya’s grassroots administration in the years ahead.