Ruto courts village elders with monthly stipends in 'Tutam' plan
Politics
By
Juliet Omelo
| Jun 16, 2026
National Treasury CS John Mbadi display the Budget Briefcase at Parliament on June 12, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]
As the drums of the 2027 General Election beat louder and time edges closer, President William Ruto is leaving nothing to chance in his bid to secure a second term.
Through the National Treasury, the Finance Bill 2026 introduces expanded allocations that appear to prioritise elderly citizens following his political fallout with Gen Z voters.
Analysts have interpreted the budget and Finance Bill as more than a fiscal framework, viewing them instead as a structured strategy to mobilise support through grassroots networks and reliable voting blocs.
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Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi defended the expanded social protection and empowerment programmes, saying they are intended to reduce poverty and promote inclusive growth. He proposed an increase in cash transfer programmes and grassroots funding, arguing that the measures are designed to support vulnerable groups.
Previous attempts to raise elderly cash transfers have often stalled, raising renewed questions about the timing of the current increment as elections approach. “In this regard, I propose Sh41.8 billion to protect vulnerable Kenyans, including Sh24.6 billion for cash transfers to elderly persons, Sh8.9 billion for cash transfers to orphans and vulnerable children, and Sh1.5 billion for cash transfers to persons living with severe disabilities,” he said.
However, the interpretation of these allocations has fuelled debate over whether state resources are being used to strengthen influence networks at the grassroots.
The inclusion of stipends for village elders has emerged as one of the most politically sensitive aspects of the budget. “I have also proposed Sh3.9 billion for stipends to village elders to enhance local administrative capacities and recognise their role in addressing security and other societal challenges,” Mbadi said.
Political analyst Dr Hesbon Owilla links the budget direction directly to the Finance Bill strategy presented by Mbadi, arguing that targeting vulnerable populations and village-based influencers reflects a calculated political response to shifting voter sentiment.
According to Owilla, the policy direction reflects a broader attempt by the administration to regain ground among communities perceived to be drifting away politically. “This is a response to what has happened in the last 18 months or so. There is a demographic that has lost trust in the regime. Opinion polls have become a wake-up call, and the government has realised it is losing numbers,” Owilla said.
“The attempts made through empowerment funds like Nyota have not fully borne fruit. So what we are seeing is an increase in targeted interventions that directly touch vulnerable populations and influence how they perceive government performance,” he said.
Owilla was more direct in linking Mbadi’s proposals to electoral strategy. “The moment you touch the economic well-being of any vulnerable population, they will remember that when voting. They will not remember what the opposition is saying. They will remember what the regime in power did for them,” he said.
He further argued that village elders occupy a strategic position as opinion shapers at the grassroots. “These are people who already have authority in the village. When you give them stipends, you strengthen their ability to influence how communities respond to government programmes and, in turn, their voting choices,” Owilla said.
He described them as intermediaries between the state and rural populations who shape political perception.
On paper, the government frames these interventions as inclusive development under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), aimed at reducing poverty and strengthening local economies. However, analysts argue the timing and structure suggest a parallel political logic.
In addition to village elder stipends and elderly cash transfers, the budget includes Sh110.2 billion for youth and women empowerment programmes, including the National Youth Service, Nyota programme and youth employment initiatives.