Sub-Counties of Kenya explained

Sub-counties, also known as Districts, are the decentralised units through which government of Kenya provides functions and services.[1] At national level, sub-counties take a more administrative function like security, statistical purposes, provision of government services, etc. Even though the sub-counties are divisions of counties, powers to create new national sub-counties lies with the national government. As of 2023, there are 314 sub-counties, compared to 290 constituencies. A deputy county commissioner is appointed by the state to lead each sub-county. The sub-counties are further divided into divisions, locations and sub-locations.

Districts were introduced in Kenya by the colonial government for ease control and management of the colony. The number of districts in Kenya through the colonial period varied. Headed by District Commissioners (DC), districts were the second level of administration after the provinces. In 1962, as the colony was transitioning to self-rule, the colonial government redrew the districts and capped them at forty, in addition to the Nairobi Area.[2] A bicameral parliament meant that the districts were to send one senator to the Senate. In 1966, the Senate was abolished by an amendment to the constitution, making the districts purely administrative. By 1992, one district had been eliminated, six more had been created by splitting some of the existing districts. By the start of the 21st century more districts had been created, and by 2005, seventy two districts were in existence, and by 2010, Kenya had 265 districts. In 2009, the High Court declared all districts created after 1992 unlawful, though they remained functional.

Under the former Constitution of Kenya, the Provinces of Kenya were subdivided into a number of districts (wilaya). In line with restructuring the national administration to fit with the devolved government system brought in by the 2010 Constitution, that came into full effect following elections in March 2013, the 8 provinces and their administrators and districts were replaced by County Commissioners at the county level, while former districts existing as of 2013 were re-organised as sub-counties, and had Deputy Commissioners appointed over them.[3]

At county government level, except for the parts which fall under urban areas, sub-counties coincide with the constituencies created under article 89 of the Constitution of Kenya.[4] In that case, constituencies are sometimes referred to as 'sub-counties' at county management level, but defer significantly from the sub-counties at national level. The sub-counties have a sub-county administrator, appointed by a County Public Service Board.[5] The sub-counties or constituencies in this case are further divided into wards and villages. The county governments are mandated to appoint administrators in both decentralised levels.

List of the 40 districts plus the Nairobi Region (as per 1963 constitution)

As per the 1963 Constitution of Kenya, apart from Nairobi, there were forty districts across the seven semi-autonomus regions of Kenya which later became to be referred as provinces. The districts were represented by a single member in the senate.[6]

Coast Region

North Eastern Region

Eastern Region

Central Region

Rift Valley Region

Western Region

Nyanza Region

List of the 46 districts plus the capital of Kenya (as of 1992)

Following a High Court ruling in September 2009, there were 46 legal districts in Kenya,[7] excluding Nairobi which constituted a 47th district.

Following the Kenyan general election, 2013, these districts and Nairobi now constitute the 47 counties which will be the basis for rolling out devolution as set out in the 2010 Constitution of Kenya (district headquarters are in parentheses):

Coast Province

North Eastern Province

Eastern Province

Central Province

Rift Valley Province

Western Province

Nyanza Province

All these 46 districts (plus Nairobi) have been replaced with 47 counties since March 2013, promoting them as the first level of administrative subdivisions of the country, and the 8 former provinces (which were the first level of subdivisions) have been dissolved.

New districts started to be created by President Moi, and there were up to 57 districts in 2003 when President Kibaki first came into office.

List of the 70 districts of Kenya (starting 2007)

In early January 2007, 37 new districts were created by the government from the 14 former districts, rising their number to 70.[8] [9]

More recent (defunct) districts (after 2007 up to March 2013)

Many more districts have been created since then, such that in July 2009 there were 254 districts (an up to 256 districts plus Nairobi on 20 September 2009, when the High Court outlawed 210 of them).[10]

The creation of new districts has been criticised by opponents for being waste of money and a populist attempt to please local residents. The government, however, say new districts bring services closer to the people and will provide security.[10]

The following list contains 208 districts, taken from a Kenyan government website in July 2009 (the list is incomplete, but their number stopped growing after the High Court decision in September 2009):[11]

DistrictsHeadquarters
Central Province
Gatundu
Githunguri
Kiambu
Kiambu
Limuru
Chaka
Chaka
Kerugoya
Mukurweini
Muranga
Kenol
Ol Kalou
Nyahururu
Engineer
Nyeri
Karatina
Nyeri
Thika
Coast Province
Kizurini
Kilifi
Dongo Kundu
Kinango
Kwale
Lamu
Malindi
Mombasa
Msambweni
Wundanyi
Hola
Taveta
Eastern Province
Timau
Rúnyenjes
Embu
Garbatula
Laare
Maua
Meru
Nkubu
Isiolo
Kangundo
Makindu
Kitui
Kyuso
Kieganguru
Machakos
Wote
Marsabit
Malkona
Laisamis
Siakago
Kírítirí
Mbumbuni
Mbooni
Gatimbi
Chuka
Moyale
Mutomo
Mwingi
Marimanti
Muriri
Urru
Kithimani
Nairobi Province
Komarock
Kasarani
Ndararua/J.Kangethe
North Eastern Province
Bura
Garissa
Masaini
Modogashe
Mandera
El Wak
Rhamu
Tabaka
Wajir
Bute
Habaswein
Gritu
Nyanza Province
Bondo
Nyansiongo
Ogembo
Homa Bay
Kisii
Kerina
Holo
Kisumu
Kegonga
Kehancha
Manga
Keroka
Migori
Ndhiwa
Pap Ondit
Nyamira
Awasi
Macaider
Madiany
Rongo
Siaya
Nyamarambe
Mbita
Rift Valley Province
Kabarnet
Kabartonjo
Bomet
Litein
Chemlingot
Naiberi
Eldoret
Kajiado
Iten
Kericho
Kipkelion
Eldama Ravine
Endebess
Nanyuki
Mukogodo
Rumuruti
Loitoktok
Kapsowar
Molo
Naivasha
Nakuru Town
Bahati
Kapsabet
-
Kabiyet
Kabujoi
Narok
Olulunga
Kacheliba
Nyahururu
Sighor
Maralal
Wamba
Baragoi
Sotik
Maraba
Maili Saba
Kitale
Kilgoris
Lodwar
Lokitaung
Lokichar
Kesses
Kapenguria
Western Province
Chwele
Webuye
Kimilili
Bungoma
Sirisia
Budalangi
Busia
Butere
Kima
Hamisi
Kakamega
Shinyalu
Malava
Malinya
Lumakanda
Kapsokwony
Mumias
Funyula
Amagoro
Amakura
Mbale

Sub-counties (since March 2013)

In August 2009, however, the High Court of Kenya declared all districts created after 1992 illegal. The judge stated that the districts were created "in complete disregard of the law". As a result, Kenya had only 46 legal districts (excluding Nairobi with its special constitutional status as the capital of the country).[12] Following the March 2013 elections, these 46 districts – together with the City of Nairobi – constitute the 47 counties into which Kenya is now divided administratively, and they are also the 47 constituencies for the elections to the National Senate.

All the former districts have disappeared (as well as the former 8 provinces whose devolution was transferred to the new 47 counties), and are now considered only as "sub-counties", without autonomy; they are used in urban areas for a limited organisation for providing public services locally. These remaining sub-counties are transitional and could be replaced by more efficient cooperative structures grouping the local services in organised cities and their surrounding towns, either for dedicated missions or for temporary plans; so they may be deeply reorganised or disappear at any time. The remaining sub-counties already do not match with the subdivision of the new 47 counties into electoral-only "wards" (based on resident population, to determine the number of elected seats for each county in the National Senate.

Nairobi sub-counties

Notes and References

  1. Decentralized Units, Section 48 (1) (b) County Governments Act 2012
  2. Web site: Kenya Gazette dated 2nd April, 1963 . 2 October 2023 . Gazettes.Africa.
  3. News: Momanyi . Bernard . Kibaki names 47 County Commissioners . 21 July 2023 . Capital News . 11 May 2012 . en . live . Mar 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210314191832/https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2012/05/kibaki-names-47-county-commissioners/.
  4. Decentralized Units, Section 48 (2) County Government Act, 2012
  5. Office of the sub-county administrator, section 50, County Government Act 2012
  6. Web site: Constitution of Kenya. 3 July 2024.
  7. News: Nyasato, Robert. 5 September 2009. High Court outlaws 210 districts created by Moi and Kibaki since 1992. The Standard. https://web.archive.org/web/20140701200608/http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/1144023253/high-court-outlaws-210-districts-created-by-moi-and-kibaki-since-1992. 1 July 2014. live.
  8. http://embassy-of-kenya.de/images/stories/New%20Districts%20in%20Kenya.pdf List of the new districts from the website of the Kenyan embassy in Germany (pdf)
  9. Web site: Newspaper report on the new districts (Kibaki Gives Kenya 37 New Districts – Jan 19, 2007) . https://web.archive.org/web/20090724153554/http://www.propertykenya.com/news/450220-kibaki-gives-kenya-37-new-districts . dead . 24 July 2009 . Propertykenya.com . 18 October 2010 .
  10. Web site: All constituencies now turned into districts . Daily Nation . 18 October 2010.
  11. Office of Public Communications: List of Provinces, Districts & Contacts
  12. The Standard, 27 September 2009: After Ringera, House to take on Kibaki over new districts