Government seeks Sh2.5 billion to activate new administrative units

The government requires Sh2.5 billion to make 1,105 newly created administrative units fully functional, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has said.

He told the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security that the government had only been allocated Sh666 million, leaving a deficit that could delay the implementation process.

The new units include 24 sub-counties, 88 divisions, 318 locations, and 675 sub-locations.

Omollo, appearing before the committee chaired by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, said that without additional funds, operationalising the units would be challenging.

“In terms of budgets, for us to do the implementation, we need an additional Sh2.1 billion. We were only given Sh666 million in the supplementary,” Omollo said.

“This money will enable us to implement what has been gazetted as well as enhance the Authority to Incur Expenditure for our field officers.”

Omollo further explained that while there is no clear policy guiding the creation of administrative units, the ministry has developed a Cabinet Memorandum on guidelines, which will be presented for approval.

“Following the promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, and the enactment of the National Government Coordination Act, 2013, it is a requirement that administrative units are gazetted before being operationalized," he said.

"This ensures that all groups, including marginalized communities, have access to government services.”

MPs raised concerns over the slow pace in making the units functional, noting that some have remained inactive for over a decade since they were gazetted.

Tongoyo urged the ministry to fast-track the process to enhance service delivery.

Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma questioned why some units had been gazetted years ago but had yet to start functioning.

“Some units in my constituency were gazetted ten years ago, yet they are still not operational,” Kaluma said.

Other legislators raised similar concerns, questioning why some units had been inaugurated in elaborate ceremonies but lacked the necessary budgetary support to ensure their functionality.

Kisumu West MP Rosa Buyu argued that politics had played a role in the establishment of administrative units.

“This issue of administrative units is influenced by politics because, in areas where there is genuine need, people are not allocated units. I’m pleased that we are now discussing the political framework,” she said.

Isiolo Woman Representative Mumina Bonaya cited cases in her county where several units created in 2022 and 2023 had yet to become operational.

She mentioned areas such as Oldonyiro, Sericho, Moliti, Jaldesa, and Chafes, among others, which were meant to improve government service coordination but remain non-functional.

MPs urged the government to expedite the operationalization process, ensuring that all gazetted administrative units receive the necessary resources to serve their intended purpose.