Chiefs and assistant chiefs in Kenya lead their respective locations and sublocations by providing a link between citizens and the government. Chiefs solve community disputes and maintain law and order in the communities.
Chiefs’ and Assistant Chiefs’ salaries in Kenya are set by the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). Their office is also under the office of the president.
Chiefs’ and Assistant Chiefs’ salaries
Assistant Chief Salary
Sub-Chiefs serve below Chiefs and oversee villages, sub-locations, and Nyumba Kumi units.
They are entitled to:
- Basic Salary: KSh 30,000 – KSh 45,000
- House Allowance: KSh 4,200 – KSh 10,000
- Commuter Allowance: KSh 3,000 – KSh 4,000
- Hardship Allowance: KSh 6,600 (where applicable)
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Chief Salary
Chiefs oversee locations and supervise Sub-Chiefs within their jurisdiction.
They are entitled to:
- Basic Salary: KSh 40,000 – KSh 60,000
- House Allowance: KSh 10,000 – KSh 28,000
- Commuter Allowance: KSh 4,000 – KSh 6,000
- Hardship Allowance: KSh 8,200 (where applicable)
Qualifications Required
Assistant Chief
- KCSE C- (Minus) or equivalent
- 30+ years old
- Resident of the sublocation
- Good communication skills
- Police clearance & basic computer skills
Chief
- Must be a resident of the location
- KCSE C (Plain) or higher
- 35+ years old
- Diploma in Public Administration, Social Work, Education, or related field
Roles and Responsibilities
Assistant Chiefs
Sub-Chiefs handle day-to-day administration at the smallest administrative units. Their tasks include:
- Supervising village elders and Nyumba Kumi groups
- Handling minor disputes and referring major ones to Chiefs
- Supporting government programs at the community level
- Issuing administrative letters (residency, recommendations, etc)
- Supporting census, public participation, and disaster response
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Chiefs
Chiefs lead entire locations and coordinate Assistant Chiefs under them.
Their responsibilities include:
- Maintaining law and order and coordinating with the police
- Leading local peace committees and resolving disputes
- Supervising Assistant Chiefs and village elders
- Overseeing registration processes (IDs, births, and deaths)
- Managing government programs such as social protection
- Mobilizing communities for development, health, and security
- Coordinating emergency response efforts
1,837 Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs graduate
The graduating cohort has completed induction, paralegal, and security management training, a programme designed to strengthen administrative leadership and enhance service delivery at the grassroots.
This marks the third cohort to complete the revamped training curriculum, bringing the total number of trained Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs since August 2025 to 5,892.
Chiefs to undergo mandatory training
During the graduation ceremony of 5,892 chiefs and assistant chiefs at the National Police College Embakasi ‘A’ Campus in Nairobi on Monday, President William Ruto directed that all chiefs undergo mandatory training within six months on the job. This is to improve government efficiency and security operations.
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