Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who is also the acting Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, has gazetted 31 new sub-counties.

Mudavadi said the move was necessitated by population growth and to comply with the ministerial 2:1 ratio requirement.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 13(1) of the National Government Co-ordination Act 2013, CS for Interior with the approval of the President establishes the following administrative units as service delivery to coordination units,” reads the notice released on Tuesday.

He also gazzetted 59 divisions, 170 locations, and 322 sub-locations across the country.

“We have officially established 578 new administrative units across the country by gazettement,” said Mudavadi.

The new sub-counties include Magarini South which was renamed from Magarini, Magarini North, Kokane with headquarters based in Assa, Akachiu, Maua which was renamed from iIgembe South, Tharaka West with headquarters located in Kibung’a and Mukothima.

Others are Ndithini, Nuu, Zombe, Illeret, Engineer, Soin, Sigowet, Kolowa, Baringo West and Mukutani, Tiaty Central, Samburu West, North East Kano, Ndhiwa East, Ndhiwa West and Siaya West.

In Nairobi, Embakasi West, Embakasi East, Embakasi North, Embakasi Central, Embakasi South, Roysambu and Ruaraka will also be new sub-counties. The five units were previously all under Embakasi sub-county.

“When operational, the administrative units will improve citizens’ access to government services and effectively address security issues in respective areas,” he added.

The changes affected 31 counties aimed at decentralising services and improving accessibility for residents.

Early this year, former Interior CS Kithure Kindiki, now Deputy President created new 16 sub-counties, two divisions, five locations, and seven sub-locations to enhance service delivery.

The administrative units are run by National Administration Officers who include Regional Commissioners in charge of the eight regions, County Commissioners who are administratively in charge of counties and deputized by Sub County Commissioners at the sub county level.

Assistant county commissioners are in charge of divisions while chiefs and the assistant chiefs oversee the administrative operations of locations and sub locations respectivel