The operationalisation of hundreds of gazetted administrative units across the country has stalled once again due to budgetary delays, according to the Jukwaa la Usalama report.
The report, released last week, indicates that the Ministry of Interior and National Administration is seeking additional funds to operationalise the remaining units, prioritising regions facing persistent security threats.
Despite the government’s intention to activate all gazetted units in the 2024/2025 financial year, budgetary delays and inadequate allocations have slowed the hiring of officers, the construction of offices, and the deployment of critical infrastructure needed to make the units functional.
“The operationalisation of gazetted administrative units has encountered budgetary delays, impacting full deployment,” the report partly reads. It was handed over to President William Ruto last week.
As a result, 15 sub-counties, 379 divisions, 1,366 locations and 2,808 sub-locations remain inactive, years after their gazettement. This gap is creating administrative dead zones where thousands of citizens lack direct access to critical services such as civil registration, conflict resolution, and public administration.
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen addresses security personnel from Nakuru County during Jukwaa la Usalama forum at Sarova Woodlands Hotel in Nakuru on August 12, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
The report highlights the National Police Service (NPS) as one of the hardest hit. At least 110 sub-counties and 741 police stations currently have no Authority to Incur Expenditure (AIEs), making it impossible for commanders to run operations, fuel vehicles or procure basic supplies.
The absence of functional administrative units undermines security surveillance in rural areas and limits the ability to respond quickly to emerging threats.
Senior officials say the plan to operationalise the units was included in the 2024/2025 budget cycle, but Treasury constraints and competing national priorities have led to significant underfunding.
Counties with vast, hard-to-reach areas – such as Samburu, Turkana, Baringo and several others in the North Rift – have been particularly affected.
Inactive units leave pastoralists with minimal administrative reach, forcing residents to walk long distances to access their chiefs, assistant chiefs, or even police services.
In some conflict-prone zones, the lack of operational sub-counties and police resources has contributed to slower response times during emergencies.
The report comes just three weeks after President Ruto promised Samburu residents three new sub-counties to improve security coordination in remote areas.
The new sub-counties include Nyiro (Samburu North), Waso (Samburu East), and Loosuk (Samburu West, already gazetted).
The vastness of Samburu’s terrain has historically made it difficult for administrators to respond swiftly to emergencies or enforce law and order under the old boundaries.
“We have resolved to create new administrative units here in Waso and Nyiro to bring services closer to pastoralists,” Dr Ruto said.
In August, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen also announced fresh plans by the State to establish more police stations in banditry-prone Samburu County to curb persistent waves of banditry and cattle rustling.
Some units that are still not operational include Ilret (Marsabit), Engineer (Nyandarua), Baringo West (headquarters Barwesa), Tiaty Central, Chemolingot, and Sericho in Oldonyiro (Isiolo).
