Gov’t to operationalize 1105 administrative units, Murkomen says 

The government plans to operationalize a total of 24 sub-counties, 88 Divisions, 318 Locations and 675 sub-locations this coming financial year, Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed.

Responding to various questions from Members of the National Assembly at the plenary session, Murkomen stated that currently, there were 45 sub-counties, 291 Divisions, 1439 Locations and 2693 sub locations which have been Gazetted but are yet to be operationalized.

“The Ministry remains fully committed to strengthening National Government Co-ordination and improving access to services through the timely operationalization of these administrative units,” Murkomen said.

The government, he said, recognizes the importance of Administrative Units in enhancing security, public service delivery, and citizen participation.

Murkomen said once the government operationalized the Administrative Units in the next budget, it will remain with a total of 21 Sub-Counties, 203 Divisions, 1126 Locations and 2018 Sub-Locations awaiting operationalization in subsequent financial years.

He noted that the government will consider factors such as areas prone to insecurity, the vastness and terrain of an area, population pressure and demand for government services in determining, which Administrative Units to be operationalized.Other factors to be considered in determining Administrative Units to be operationalized include promotion of inclusivity and minority representation, availability of infrastructure and what the CS termed as 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 Units.

Murkomen said the budget for operationalizing new Administrative Units had not been factored in the current budget, forcing his ministry to utilize the allocated development and recurrent budgets to ensure services are not interrupted in the affected Units.

Regarding the need for Affirmative Action in the appointment of chiefs and assistant chiefs in marginalized areas, the CS informed the House that whereas, possession of experience in socio-political, economic and cultural aspects of communities is important in Public Administration at the grassroot, other factors suffice.

He explained that all cadres’ positions in public service are subject to particular minimum academic requirements during recruitment and selection process and 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.”

“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. The said regulations will be subjected to public participation and thereafter forwarded to this House for consideration,” Murkomen said.

And responding to a question from Bumula MP Wamboka Wanami, the CS defended the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)system which he said had facilitated more travel into the country.

Regarding how much money the government spent to acquire and implement the eTA system, Murkomen revealed that as of February 25, 2025, the total number of eTAs applied for was 1,596,799, generating USD50,568,810 out of, which the service provider is entitled to USD12,255,013.50.