|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
1,105 administrative units will be operationalized in the 2024/2025 financial year as the Government moves to clean up Kenya’s growing backlog of gazetted but non-operational 24 sub-counties, 88 divisions, 318 locations and 675 sub-locations.
In a major policy move, the Ministry of Interior and National Administration announced the development of new regulations to align the creation of sub-counties, divisions, locations and sub-locations with budgetary provisions and national development goals.
Appearing before Parliament’s plenary session, Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen revealed that the Ministry plans to operationalise 1,105 administrative units.
“To prevent future gazettement of administrative units that are not budgeted for, the Ministry is developing regulations that will guide the establishment of new units,” Murkomen explained.
The announcement comes amid rising concerns over hundreds of gazetted units that remain inactive due to funding constraints.
Currently, 45 sub-counties, 291 divisions, 1,439 locations and 2,693 sub-locations are non-operational, a situation that has strained service delivery in many parts of the country.
To tackle the problem, the Ministry has approved a supplementary budget with personnel and is working closely with the National Treasury to ensure the timely release of funds by the end of April 2025.
In the meantime, efforts to identify and equip administrative offices in priority areas are underway, with full staff deployment expected by July 2025.
Among the areas prioritised for operationalisation are Sericho and Oldonyiro Sub-Counties in Isiolo County, along with several locations and sub-locations, including Moliti, Jaldesa, Chafes, Checheles, Lafe, Duse, Kiwanjani, Qarsa and Koone.
Murkomen underscored that the new administrative units are expected to boost service delivery, strengthen security, and increase citizen participation in local governance.
The proposed regulations will introduce clear criteria for determining which areas are prioritized, with a focus on population density, insecurity levels and service delivery gaps.
“This is about sustainable and financially viable governance,” Murkomen concluded. “And we want public participation to guide the process before the regulations are finalised and brought before Parliament.”
He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to affirmative action in the appointment of chiefs and assistant chiefs, particularly in marginalised regions.
