Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who is currently acting as the Interior Cabinet Secretary, has gazetted the creation of 27 new sub-counties, 59 divisions, 170 locations, and 322 sub-locations. This restructuring is expected to benefit 31 counties and will contribute to better service delivery and enhanced security at the grassroots level.
In his notice, Mudavadi explained that the creation of these new administrative units was necessary due to population growth and the need to comply with the 2:1 ratio established by the government for administrative units. The decision follows a recommendation from the Interior Ministry to better manage national coordination and streamline services to the public.
The new units, once operational, are designed to serve as coordination units for national government services, helping to bridge the gap between citizens and government service providers. Mudavadi emphasized that these additions would improve citizens’ access to government services and address local security challenges effectively.
The 27 new sub-counties include areas that were previously merged or renamed. Among the sub-counties created are Magarini South and Magarini North (in Magarini), Kokane with headquarters at Assa, and Tharaka West with its headquarters at Kibung’a. Other notable sub-counties are Mukothima and Ndithini, with Kiatineni Market as the headquarters, and Nuu, with its headquarters at Nuu Trading Centre. Additionally, Zombe was created after the renaming of Mutitu Sub-County.
The changes also include administrative adjustments in areas like Illeret, Engineer, Soin, Sigowet (renamed from Soin Sigowet), and Kolowa in various parts of the country. For instance, the headquarters for Soin will now be located in Kipsitet, while Sigowet will be managed from Chepkemel. Similarly, Baringo West and Mukutani Sub-County were also added to the list, with headquarters at Barwesa and Mukutani, respectively.
Mudavadi also gazetted administrative units in urban areas, such as Saboti, North East Kano (with headquarters at Masogo), and Ndhiwa West (renamed from Ndhiwa) with headquarters at Uranga. The Embakasi region, which includes Embakasi East, Embakasi West, Embakasi North, and others, will benefit from these changes. Notably, several Embakasi regions were renamed, such as Embakasi Central and Embakasi South, which will now benefit from more focused administrative management.
The gazettement is a continuation of plans announced earlier by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who, as the then Interior CS, had also signaled the creation of new administrative units to enhance service delivery. This step is part of an ongoing effort by the government to ensure that all regions, including remote and urban areas, have the infrastructure necessary to deliver key public services such as security, health, and education more effectively.
These administrative changes will be overseen by National Administration officers, including Regional Commissioners, County Commissioners, Sub-County Commissioners, Assistant County Commissioners, and Chiefs, along with their assistants. This decentralization will empower these officers to address local issues more efficiently and respond to security concerns at the community level.
As the newly gazetted administrative units become operational, local governments are expected to work closely with national authorities to facilitate smooth transitions and ensure that the public benefits from this restructuring. It is hoped that the increased administrative capacity will improve the general welfare of the citizenry and tackle long-standing issues of service delivery and security management across the affected regions.
