The government is set to recruit additional Assistant County Commissioners (ACCs) following approval from the Public Service Commission (PSC), opening up new opportunities for chiefs, assistant chiefs and other qualified Kenyans.
Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo said the Ministry would advertise the vacancies soon as part of plans to operationalise newly gazetted administrative units across the country.
He encouraged serving chiefs and assistant chiefs who meet the requirements to apply for the positions.
“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,” Omollo said.
The PS announced the recruitment during an engagement with National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) and village elders ahead of the inauguration of Kikumbulyu Division in Kibwezi, Makueni County.
He later presided over the official opening of the division and the installation of its first Assistant County Commissioner.
The meeting was hosted by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse and brought together regional and county administrators, chiefs, assistant chiefs and village elders.
Omollo said the expansion of administrative units was intended to address geographical barriers that have forced some communities to travel long distances to access government services and assistance.
He emphasised that every Kenyan should have equitable access to government administration regardless of their location.
Kikumbulyu Division has 127 villages managed by national government village elders across Ngulu, Karthyaka, Ngandani and Ndetani sub-locations.
The expanded administrative network is expected to strengthen community mobilisation, information sharing and coordination of government programmes.
Beyond the recruitment drive, Omollo outlined measures being implemented to improve the welfare and working conditions of chiefs and assistant chiefs.
These include additional training, increased operational funding, decentralised distribution of uniforms and the processing of delayed promotions.
He said paramilitary and legal training had strengthened administrators’ preparedness to handle their responsibilities, adding that the Ministry was working to conclude outstanding promotion cases.
The PS also challenged chiefs, assistant chiefs and village elders to demonstrate professionalism, accessibility and responsiveness to the needs of residents.
“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 said.
He called on administrative leadership in Kibwezi Sub-County to strengthen supervision, mentorship and performance management, noting that the creation of new administrative units must be accompanied by higher standards of accountability.
Omollo also addressed the welfare of village elders, highlighting the Ksh3,000 monthly stipend introduced by President William Ruto’s administration in recognition of their contribution to grassroots administration.
He said payments commenced in July and were continuing. The government is also planning to provide village elders with smartphones to improve communication and their ability to coordinate government activities.
In August 2026, President Ruto announced that the National Treasury would make a budgetary allocation to facilitate the purchase of the devices.
The President also announced plans to provide medical insurance for village elders and their families under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
During an engagement with more than 10,000 village elders at State House on August 4, Ruto said the government was formally recognising their contribution to community leadership and service delivery.
“Today, we formally recognise that historic role. The onboarding of more than 106,000 village elders across the 47 counties into the National Government Administration system is a major milestone in bringing Government closer to the people,” the President said.
He added that the support package was intended to strengthen the capacity of village elders to serve communities and support the implementation of government programmes.
Omollo further commended chiefs, assistant chiefs and village elders for helping maintain peace, resolve disputes and connect residents with government institutions.
He noted that grassroots administrators were often the first point of contact when disputes arose within families and communities.
Their responsibilities include preventing conflicts from escalating, facilitating alternative dispute resolution and referring cases requiring police intervention to the relevant authorities.
The PS also emphasised the role of national government administrative officers in maintaining law and order, protecting life and property and preserving peace and stability.
“Security management is not merely about responding to incidents when they occur; it is about building resilient communities, anticipating threats and creating conditions in which citizens can live, work and pursue their livelihoods without fear,” he said.
With national examinations underway, Omollo praised administrators and security officers for supporting the Ministry of Education in providing a safe environment for candidates.
He urged them to maintain the support during the school holidays and ahead of the January 2027 reopening, particularly by preventing school dropouts and ensuring learners transition to the next level of education.
“Education is the great equaliser. It gives the child of a village elder the opportunity to stand alongside the child of a Member of Parliament, and the child of a chief the opportunity to stand alongside the child of a Principal Secretary,” he said.
He asked administrators to work with parents to safeguard children during the holidays and identify learners at risk of failing to return to school.
The PS also acknowledged administrators’ contribution to farmer registration, saying accurate information collected at the grassroots was essential in delivering agricultural support and other government programmes.
He urged officers to uphold impartiality, vigilance and professionalism while ensuring that residents receive fair treatment and access to government services.
Omollo said effective administration and sustainable peace depended on close collaboration between government officers, security agencies and the communities they serve.
The latest recruitment announcement builds on the government’s earlier plans to operationalise newly gazetted administrative units across the country.
In June 2026, Omollo said the government was finalising arrangements to make the new units functional, urging communities to support the recruitment of chiefs and assistant chiefs by identifying individuals of integrity and patriotism.
“We have gazetted a number of administrative units across the country, including Homa Bay County. We are in the process of operationalizing all those administrative units so that our people can have government services closer to them,” he said during an engagement in Rangwe Constituency.
The government has maintained that expanding grassroots administration will reduce the distance between residents and government offices while improving the coordination and implementation of public programmes.
