The government intends to spend Sh2.1 billion to operationalise 1,105 administrative units, MPs heard on Thursday.
Appearing before a National Assembly committee, Internal Security PS Raymond Omollo said the state department was allocated Sh666 million but needs more to operationalise all the units.
The government wants to operationalise 24 subcounties, 88 divisions, 318 locations and 675 sublocations.
“In terms of budgets, for us to do the implementation we need an additional Sh2.1 billion. We were only given Sh666 million in the supplementary,” Omollo told the Committee on Administration and Internal Security, chaired by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo.
“This money will enable us to implement what has been gazetted as well as enhance the Authority to Incur Expenditure for our field officers."
He explained that although there is no policy on operationalisation of administrative units, the ministry has drafted a Cabinet Memorandum on the Guidelines for the Creation of new Administrative Units that will be tabled in the Cabinet for approval.
“Following the promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 and the enactment of the National Government Coordination Act, 2013, it is a requirement that Administrative Units are gazetted before being operationalised,” Omollo said.
“This ensures that all groups, including marginalised communities, have access to government services.” The lawmakers expressed concern with the slow pace in operationalisation of the new units, some which they noted have not been in use since the constitution was promulgated in 2010.
Tongoyo stressed on the need for the ministry to ensure the units are fully functional, to enhance service delivery.
Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma raised concerns, saying some units in his constituency were gazetted but 10 years later, are yet to function.
