Millions allocated, but hundreds of new administrative units remain dormant
MPs expressed frustration over the non-operational units, some of which were inaugurated as early as 2022 but remain unused due to a lack of funding.
The government has come under scrutiny over its rush to establish new administrative units without allocating resources for their operations.
Legislators have questioned why residents in counties such as Isiolo, Kilifi, Narok, Turkana, and many others continue to lack access to essential government services despite the creation of sub-counties, divisions, locations, and sub-locations meant to bring administration closer to the people.
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During a debate in the National Assembly, MPs expressed frustration over the non-operational units, some of which were inaugurated as early as 2022 but remain unused due to a lack of funding. They accused the government of prioritising political optics over service delivery, leading to wasted resources and unfulfilled promises to citizens.
Isiolo Woman Representative Mumina Bonaya, who raised the issue in Parliament, lamented that several administrative units in her county have remained non-functional for up to three years.
“Residents of Isiolo County continue to travel long distances to access government services. The operationalisation of these units would create employment opportunities for the youth and improve socio-economic development,” she said.
Budgetary constraints
Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, who chairs the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security, revealed that across the country, 24 sub-counties, 88 divisions, 318 locations, and 674 sub-locations remain non-operational due to budgetary constraints.
“The problem has always been money. The ministry received Sh284 million in the second supplementary budget to operationalise these units, but at least Sh500 million is required,” Tongoyo said.
He urged Parliament to allocate the necessary funds to ensure the units become functional.
Kilgoris MP Julius Sunkuli pointed out that the problem is widespread and affects most constituencies.
“This is an issue that affects many parts of the country. The ministry is aware of the challenges causing the non-operation of these units,” he said.
Other MPs, including Marakwet East’s Kangongo Bowen and Kilifi North’s Owen Baya, criticised the trend of every Cabinet Secretary creating new administrative units without ensuring the functionality of those already established.
"There are so many administrative units, some of which were created three years ago since they were gazetted and have never been operationalised. You will find that every Cabinet Secretary who comes to this office creates so many administrative units in their villages and gazettes them and they do it without a budget," Bowen said.
"The current CS should ensure that the current ones are operationalised before others are created otherwise, you will find that every CS who comes does his thing and leaves.”
Baya pointed out that he has five chiefs and assistant chiefs in his constituency who were appointed to run the newly created administrative units but are still receiving salaries because the units are not operational.
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They warned that the continued appointment of chiefs and assistant chiefs without salaries due to non-operational units is a dangerous precedent that needs urgent redress.
“This issue must be addressed to bring services closer to the people. The government should prioritise making the current units operational before creating new ones,” Turkana East MP Nixon Ngikor added.
The legislators have now called for a clear policy on the establishment of administrative units, warning against what they see as politically motivated decisions that fail to benefit citizens.
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