Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said that the government plans to operationalise 24 sub counties, 88 divisions, 318 locations and 675 sub locations in this financial year.
Murkomen who was responding to questions from Members of the National Assembly, noted that currently, there were 45 sub-counties, 291 divisions, 1439 locations and 2693 sub locations which have been gazetted but are yet to be operationalised.
The CS said that once the government operationalises the administrative units planned for this financial year, it will remain with a total of 21 sub-counties, 203 divisions, 1126 locations and 2018 sub locations awaiting operationalisation in subsequent financial years.
“The Ministry of Interior remains fully committed to strengthening National Government coordination and improving access to services through the timely operationalisation of these administrative units, which we are committed to do in this financial year,” said Murkomen.
He revealed that the government will consider factors such as areas prone to insecurity, the vastness and terrain, population pressure and demand for government services in determining which administrative units to be operationalised.
Murkomen told Members of Parliament that the government recognises the importance of administrative units in enhancing security, public service delivery and citizen participation and also the promotion of inclusivity and minority representation and availability of infrastructure.
He spoke of anomalous administrative units where for instance, a sub county has only one division, forcing an Assistant County Commissioner and a Deputy County Commissioner to cover the same administrative units as a factor to be considered in having new units.
“The budget for operationalising of new administrative units had not been allocated this financial year, forcing his ministry to utilize the allocated development and recurrent budgets to ensure services are delivered to Kenyans in the affected units,” said Murkomen.
On affirmative action in the appointment of chiefs and assistant chiefs in marginalised areas, the CS said that possession of experience in socio-political, economic and cultural aspects of communities is important in Public Administration at the grassroots.
Murkomen said that all cadres’ positions in public service are subject to particular minimum academic requirements during recruitment and selection process, academic waivers of particular qualifications are granted to attract experienced applicants in special circumstances.
“This affirmative action ensures that citizens in the marginalized areas are not discriminated against but have equal access to the Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs’ positions, that is why the government is keen on addressing this inequality,” said Murkomen.
He explained that to prevent future gazettement of administrative units that are not budgeted for, the ministry is currently developing regulations that will guide the establishment of new administrative units.
