This scientific article presents a study of the process of formation of national elites in the Kazakh steppe in the XIX century. The Kazakh aristocracy, which previously acted as intermediaries between Kazakh society and Russia, subsequently became direct representatives of the Russian government. The article highlights the role of Kazakh representatives in the structure of the Russian Empire and their function as intermediaries between the Russian authorities and the local population. The article analyzes the important influence of Kazakh intermediaries on the establishment of contacts and cooperation between different cultures, which in turn contributed to the preservation of traditional Kazakh culture in the conditions of Russian domination. The article deeply examines the challenges and difficulties faced by Kazakh representatives, including the impact of the new management system on their lifestyle and traditional power structures. Special attention is paid to the mechanisms and factors that contributed to the formation of national elites in the Kazakh steppe. The article analyzes the role of education, culture and social mobility in the formation of Kazakh leaders, intellectuals and cultural figures during this period. The contribution of the Russian Empire to the training and retraining of personnel, the development of education, the construction of schools, as well as the policy of the Empire to preserve the cultural traditions of the local population in the Kazakh steppe is considered.