Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs Get Opportunity as Gov’t Announces New Recruitment Drive

The government has announced plans to recruit additional Assistant County Commissioners following approval from the Public Service Commission (PSC).

In a statement on Tuesday, November 3, Interior Principal Raymond Omollo said the Ministry would soon advertise the vacancies to facilitate the operationalisation of newly gazetted administrative units across the country.

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He encouraged qualified individuals, particularly those with experience in grassroots administration, to apply for the positions and participate in improving access to government services.

"As we bring these units into operation, we want qualified Kenyans, including those already serving their communities, to take up these opportunities and help make government services more accessible," he said.

Omollo made the announcement during a meeting with National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) and village elders ahead of the inauguration of Kikumbulyu Division in Kibwezi, Makueni County. 

He subsequently presided over the opening of the new division and the installation of its inaugural Assistant County Commissioner.

The engagement, organised by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, was attended by regional and county administration officials, chiefs, assistant chiefs and village elders.

Omollo explained that creating additional administrative units was aimed at eliminating geographical challenges that had made it difficult for some residents to access government services, particularly those living far from existing administrative offices.

He said the expansion would help ensure that communities across the country received government assistance without being disadvantaged by their geographical location.

Omollo also called on chiefs, assistant chiefs and village elders to improve service delivery by demonstrating professionalism, maintaining close contact with residents and responding promptly to issues affecting their communities.

He reminded administrators that their responsibilities went beyond holding government positions, urging them to actively identify challenges and ensure concerns requiring government intervention were communicated to the relevant authorities.

"The government expects these officers to be proactive in identifying challenges affecting their communities, escalating issues requiring intervention and ensuring that government policies and programmes reach the intended beneficiaries," he added.

On the welfare of chiefs and assistant chiefs, Omollo highlighted several interventions being undertaken by the Ministry, including additional training, increased operational funding, decentralised distribution of uniforms and efforts to clear outstanding promotion cases.

He said paramilitary and legal training had improved the officers' capacity to handle their responsibilities, adding that the Ministry was working towards resolving pending promotions.

Omollo also addressed the welfare of village elders, pointing to the monthly Ksh3,000 stipend introduced under President William Ruto's administration in recognition of their contribution to grassroots governance.

He said the payments, which began in July, were ongoing as the government continued supporting village elders in their roles.

Additionally, the government was pursuing plans to equip village elders with smartphones to improve communication and coordination of administrative duties.

The initiative followed an announcement by Ruto in early August that the National Treasury would make a provision in the national budget to finance the purchase of the devices.

This comes months after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced an increase in the Authority to Incur Expenditure (AIE) allocations for chiefs and assistant chiefs. 

Speaking on Tuesday, August 4, at State House, Nairobi, he said the government had secured funds to increase the quarterly allocations for Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs. 

Murkomen noted that the quarterly AIE allocation for assistant chiefs will increase from Ksh 15,000 to Ksh 30,000 while the allocation for chiefs has also been raised from Ksh 30,000 to Ksh 50,000.

"As you directed, Your Excellency, regarding the AIE allocations for chiefs and Assistant Chiefs, we have got funds.

“Starting with the first quarter of this financial year, the quarterly AIE allocation for assistant chiefs has been increased from Ksh 15,000 to Ksh 30,000, while that of chiefs has been raised from Ksh 30,000 to Ksh 50,000," he announced. 

Murkomen also announced the government will roll out a training programme for all the village elders, noting that the training programme for the village elders will focus on digital literacy and leadership. 

"Once we leave here, we will begin training all village elders on digital literacy and leadership," he added.