Budgetary constraints cause of delay in operationalization of gazetted administrative units, Interior CS says

𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫

The Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Hon. Kipchumba Murkomen, has informed the House that the slow uptake in the operationalisation of gazette administrative units is due to budgetary constraints.

This he stated when he appeared for Question time before the National Assembly in accordance with Article 124 of the Constitution, together with Standing Order 42A (6B). The provisions allow for a Cabinet Secretary to appear before the House to respond to Member questions.

Hon. Murkomen was responding to questions from Kuresoi Member of Parliament, Hon. Joseph Tonui, and Isiolo County MP, Hon. Mumina Bonaya, who had both raised alarm over the slow operationalisation of already gazetted administrative units.

Hon. Joseph Tonui had asked the CS to provide a status report on the operationalisation of administrative units in Kuresoi stating, “Can the CS state measures put in place by the Ministry to ensure administrative units are fully operational in Kiptagich, Tinet, Sotiki, Bararget, and Kabongoi locations so that residents get access to essential national government services conveniently and effectively?”

Hon. Mumina Bonaya, on her part, had asked the CS to provide a timeline for when the exercise would be completed stating, “The newly operationalised administrative units in Isiolo County were gazetted in March 2022. Up to date, nothing has been done 3 years down the line. Can the CS state the measures that the Ministry has put in place to fast-track the process, including clear timelines for when the units will be operationalised?”

In his response, Hon. Murkomen informed the House that the matter of operationalisation of the units was hampered by lack of budgetary planning before gazetting units.

He noted that Forty-five (45) Sub-Counties, Two Hundred and Ninety-One (291) Divisions, One Thousand Four Hundred and Thirty-Nine (1439) Locations, Two Thousand Six Hundred and Ninety-Three (2693) Sub-Locations had been gazetted but were yet to be operationalised.

“Owing to the acute budgetary constraints, the ministry has been hard-pressed to operationalize all the gazetted units, opting instead to phase the operationalisation based on area insecurity, vastness and terrain, population pressure, promotion of inclusivity and minority representation, and available infrastructure,” stated Hon. Murkomen.

The CS informed the House that in the 2024/2025 Financial Year, the Ministry had only prioritised the operationalisation of Twenty-Four (24) Sub-Counties, Eighty-eight Divisions, Three Hundred and Eighteen (318) Locations, and Six Hundred and Seventy-Five (675) Sub-Locations.

“Hon. Speaker, the budget for the operationalisation of the administrative units was not allocated this Financial Year. The ministry has been utilizing budgetary alterations for development and recurrent expenditure to ensure there is service delivery,” added the Cabinet Secretary.

Hon. Murkomen further informed the House that, to prevent future gazettement of administrative units that are not budgeted for, the Ministry was in the process of developing regulations that will guide the establishment of new administrative units.