Murkomen: State to effect 24 subcounties next financial year

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen speaks at the National Assembly during Plenary

The government plans to effect the operation of 24 subcounties, 88 divisions, 318 locations and 675 sublocations next financial year, Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed.

Responding to questions from MPs on Wednesday, Murkomen said there are 45 subcounties, 291 divisions, 1439 locations and 2693 sublocations which earmarked to start operating.

“The ministry remains fully committed to strengthening national government coordination and improving access to services through the timely operationalisation of these administrative units,” he said.

Murkomen stated that after the units are operationalised, the government will be left with a total of 21 subcounties, 203 divisions, 1,126 locations and 2018 sublocations awaiting the same in subsequent financial years.

The CS noted that the government will consider factors such as security, the vastness and terrain of an area, population density and demand for government services in determining administrative units to be operationalised.

Murkomen noted that the budget for operationalising new aadministrative units had not been factored in the current budget, forcing his ministry to utilise the allocated for 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 marginalised 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 position cadres 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 marginalised areas are not discriminated against but have equal access to the chiefs’ and assistant chiefs’ positions,” he stated.

Murkomen added that to prevent future gazettement of administrative units that are not budgeted for, the ministry is currently developing regulations that will guide their establishment.

The said regulations will be subjected to public participation and thereafter forwarded to the House for consideration.