Government freezes creation of new administrative units over funding shortfall

The government has announced a halt to the creation of new administrative units, citing challenges in funding, staffing, and infrastructure for existing units.

The freeze affects thousands of units recently gazetted, including 18 sub-counties, 291 divisions, 1,439 locations, and 2,693 sub-locations.

While these units were intended to bring government services closer to citizens, they have struggled to operate effectively due to limited resources and logistical challenges.

Members of Parliament have raised concerns over the underutilisation of the newly created units.

Marakwet East MP Kangogo Bowen urged the government to develop a clear policy before establishing any more units to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future.

Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen admitted that most units were created under political pressure, often without adequate funding. He stressed that no additional units will be established unless there is a clear budget provision.

“Sometimes, out of political pressure, the government gazettes new units. They (politicians) then ask us to send a Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), stating that they will see what to do about the rest. But when you send the DCC, he or she has no vehicle or office,” Murkomen said.

He also highlighted that some leaders later question why the units are not functional. “They start asking what kind of government has a DCC without a vehicle or an office,” he said.

The minister explained that the government faces a funding gap of Sh2.5 billion needed to make all the units operational.

He noted that units established as far back as 2015 are still not functioning properly, and that the earliest comprehensive funding may only be available in the next financial year.

Murkomen revealed that only Sh200 million has been released so far to fund some of the new units. “We are trying to prioritise a few areas, starting with places affected by insecurity.”

The government is now working on a policy framework in collaboration with the Jukwaa La Usalama initiative to guide the creation and operationalisation of administrative units.

“We will ensure that as we work on the policies, one of them will be on how to establish an administrative unit. This is so that it is not just a political wish. By so doing, the president will not be under pressure as was the case also with his predecessors,” Murkomen said.

Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda has also called on the government to clarify plans for constructing offices, deploying staff, and providing equipment for units in his county.

The challenges are not new. In June 2022, the government temporarily froze the creation of new administrative units ahead of the August 2022 General Election due to concerns about the politicisation of boundaries.

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Former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i warned that political influence was undermining effective administration, and later Deputy President Kithure Kindiki gazetted 1,104 units across 31 counties to streamline processes.