Several administrative units created to improve the delivery of national government services to the people are not operational, raising questions about the haste with which they were set up.
Members of Parliament expressed concern that the various units that were set up for chiefs and their assistants have remained largely unused and unpaid.
The lawmakers questioned the political reasons for setting up the administrative units and even inaugurating them in colourful ceremonies without taking into account budgets to enable them to function in providing services to the people.
The issue was raised on the floor of the House by Isiolo Woman Representative Mumina Bonaya, who said several units created in the county have not been operational, some for as long as three years.
Ms Bonaya cited Oldonyiro and Sericho sub-counties, Moliti, Jaldesa, Chafes, Checheles, Lafe, Duse and Kiwanjani units and Moliti, Qarsa, Koone and Chafes sub-units that were created in 2022 and 2023 but have never been operational.
According to Gabriel Tongoyo (Narok West, UDA), the chairman of the National Assembly on Administration and Internal Security Committee, the recently created administrative units that are not operational include 24 sub-counties, 88 divisions, 318 locations, and 674 sub-locations.
The units were established in Isiolo County by former Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, now the Deputy President, through gazette notification No. 2969 to improve coordination of national government functions.
Ms Bonaya said that while establishing the units, the CS gave an assurance that the administrative units would be operational by the end of 2024, "but this is yet to happen, and residents of Isiolo County continue to travel long distances to access government services."
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki. He established new administrative units when he was Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
The operationalisation of these units will provide an opportunity for socio-economic development through recruitment opportunities for the youth in institutions such as the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Police Service (NPS), Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and other government departments," Ms Bonaya said.
Other MPs pointed out that they were facing similar problems in their constituencies because the units set up were not operational.
"This is an issue that affects most parts of the country. The non-operation of these units is due to some aspects that the ministry is aware of," said Kilgoris MP Julius Sunkuli.
In the second supplementary budget, Mr Tongoyo said the ministry had received Sh284 million to operationalise the units but needed at least Sh500 million.
"The problem has always been money. I'm pleading with this House to give at least half a billion shillings to operationalise these units," said Mr Tongoyo.
Marakwet East MP Kangongo Bowen said there was need for a policy on the creation of administrative units.
Isiolo Woman Representative Mumina Bonaya.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
"There are so many administrative units, some of which were created three years ago since they were gazetted and have never been operationalised. You will find that every Cabinet Secretary who comes to this office creates so many administrative units in their villages and gazettes them and they do it without a budget," Mr Bowen said. "The current CS should ensure that the current ones are operationalised before others are created otherwise, you will find that every CS who comes does his thing and leaves," he added.
Kilifi North MP Owen Baya pointed out that he has five chiefs and assistant chiefs in his constituency who were appointed to run the newly created administrative units but are still receiving salaries because the units are not operational.
In Magarini, Mr Baya said there are five chiefs and seven assistant chiefs who are also not receiving their salaries because their units are not operational.
"I received a call from the people of Magarini that they have five chiefs and seven assistant chiefs who have been appointed but are not receiving salaries, this is very dangerous for a country," said Mr Baya.
"This is an issue that needs to be addressed so that we can bring services closer to the people," added Turkana East MP Nixon Ngikor.
