Counties of Kenya

Kenyan Counties
Kaunti za Kenya (Swahili)
Category Semi-Devolved State
Location Republic of Kenya
Number 47 Counties
Populations 101,539 (Lamu) – 3,138,369 (Nairobi)
Areas 294.7 km2 (113.8 sq mi) (Mombasa) – 71,597.8 km2 (27,644.1 sq mi) (Turkana)
Government County Government, Government of Kenya
Subdivisions Sub-Counties
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Not to be confused with the defunct county councils of Kenya, the counties of Kenya are geographical units envisioned by the 2010 Constitution of Kenya as the units of devolved government.[1] The powers are provided in Articles 191 and 192, and in the fourth schedule of the Constitution of Kenya and the County Governments Act of 2012. The counties are also single member constituencies for the election of members of parliament to the Senate of Kenya[2] and special women members of parliament to the National Assembly of Kenya.[3] As of 2013 general elections, there are 47 counties whose size and boundaries are based on the 47 legally recognised Districts of Kenya. Following the re-organisation of Kenya's national administration, counties were integrated into a new national administration with the national government posting county commissioners to represent it at the counties.[4]

Establishment

County governments were established in 47 counties (based on the 1992 Districts of Kenya), after the scheduled general elections in March 2013. The counties' names are set out in the First Schedule of the Constitution of Kenya.

List of counties

Under the new constitution, Kenya is now divided into 47 counties for administrative purposes. They are grouped below according to the former province of which they were part, with their areas and populations as of the 2009 census:[5]

Code Official Website County Former Province Area (km2) Population
Census (2009) 		Capital
1 Mombasa county Mombasa County Coast 212.5939,370 Mombasa (City)
2 Kwale county Kwale Coast 8,270.3649,931 Kwale
3 Kilifi county Kilifi Coast 12,245.91,109,735 Kilifi
4 Tana River county Tana River Coast 35,375.8240,075 Hola
5 Lamu county Lamu Coast6,497.7101,539 Lamu
6 Taita-Taveta county Taita-Taveta Coast 17,083.9284,657 Voi
7 Garissa county Garissa North Eastern 45,720.2623,060 Garissa
8 Wajir county Wajir North Eastern 55,840.6661,941 Wajir
9 Mandera county Mandera North Eastern 25,797.71,025,756 Mandera
10 Marsabit county Marsabit Eastern 66,923.1291,166 Marsabit
11 Isiolo county Isiolo Eastern 25,336.1143,294 Isiolo
12 Meru county Meru Eastern 6,930.11,356,301 Meru
13 Tharaka-Nithi county Tharaka-Nithi Eastern 2,409.5365,330 Kathwana
14 Embu county Embu Eastern 2,555.9516,212 Embu
15 Kitui county Kitui Eastern 24,385.11,012,709 Kitui
16 Machakos county Machakos Eastern 5,952.91,098,584 Machakos
17 Makueni county Makueni Eastern 8,008.9884,527 Wote
18 Nyandarua county Nyandarua Central 3,107.7596,268 Ol Kalou
19 Nyeri county Nyeri Central 2,361.0693,558 Nyeri
20 Kirinyaga county Kirinyaga Central 1,205.4528,054 Kerugoya / Kutus
21 Murang'a county Murang'a Central 2,325.8942,581 Murang'a
22 Kiambu county Kiambu Central 2,449.21,623,282 Kiambu
23 Turkana county Turkana Rift Valley 71,597.8855,399 Lodwar
24 West Pokot county West Pokot Rift Valley 8,418.2512,690 Kapenguria
25 Samburu county Samburu Rift Valley 20,182.5223,947 Maralal
26 Trans Nzoia county Trans Nzoia Rift Valley 2,469.9818,757 Kitale
27 Uasin Gishu county Uasin Gishu Rift Valley 2,955.3894,179 Eldoret
28 Elgeyo-Marakwet county Elgeyo-Marakwet Rift Valley 3,049.7369,998 Iten
29 Nandi county Nandi Rift Valley 2,884.5752,965 Kapsabet
30 Baringo county Baringo Rift Valley 11,075.3555,561 Kabarnet
31 Laikipia county Laikipia Rift Valley 8,696.1399,227 Rumuruti
32 Nakuru county Nakuru Rift Valley 7,509.51,603,325 Nakuru
33 Narok county Narok Rift Valley 17,921.2850,920 Narok
34 Kajiado county Kajiado Rift Valley 21,292.7687,312 Kajiado
35 Kericho county Kericho Rift Valley 2,454.5752,396 Kericho
36 Bomet county Bomet Rift Valley 1,997.9730,129 Bomet
37 Kakamega county Kakamega Western 3,033.81,660,651 Kakamega
38 Vihiga county Vihiga Western 531.3554,622 Vihiga
39 Bungoma county Bungoma Western 2,206.91,375,063 Bungoma
40 Busia county Busia Western 1,628.4743,946 Busia
41 Siaya county Siaya Nyanza 2,496.1842,304 Siaya
42 Kisumu county Kisumu Nyanza 2,009.5968,909 Kisumu
43 Homabay county Homa Bay Nyanza 3,154.7963,794 Homa Bay
44 Migori county Migori Nyanza 2,586.4917,170 Migori
45 Kisii county Kisii Nyanza 1,317.91,152,282 Kisii
46 Nyamira county Nyamira Nyanza 912.5598,252 Nyamira
47 Nairobi county Nairobi County Nairobi 694.93,138,369 Nairobi (City)
Totals 581,309.038,610,097 Nairobi

Counties of Kenya:

County Governments

County governments are responsible for county legislation (outlined in article 185 of the Constitution of Kenya), executive functions (outlined in article 183), functions outlined in the fourth schedule of the constitution of Kenya, functions transferred from the national government through article 187 of the constitution of Kenya, functions agreed upon with other counties under article 189(2) of the constitution of Kenya, and establishment and staffing of a public service (under article 235 of the Constitution of Kenya).[6] The functions of governments assigned to counties by the fourth schedule of the Constitution of Kenya are: [7]

Agriculture

County health services

Pollution, Nuisances and Advertising Control

Cultural activities, public entertainment and public amenities

County transport

Animal control and welfare

Trade development and regulation

County planning and development

Education and Childcare

Policy Implementation

County public works and services

Coordination

County Executive Committee

The county governor and the deputy county governor are the chief executive and deputy chief executive of the county, respectively.[8] The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission shall not conduct a separate election for the deputy governor but shall declare the running mate of the person who is elected county governor to have been elected as the deputy governor.[9] Each county will be run by an executive committee, consisting of:

As a specialty in the democratic system Kenyan law requires governors to have a recognized university degree (it is not necessary for the President of the United States, for example, to hold a degree).[11]

County Assemblies

The counties will each have an assembly whose members are elected from single member constituencies known as wards. There may also be a number of nominated members as is necessary to ensure that neither male nor female members constitute more than two-thirds of the assembly.[12] There will also be six nominated members to represent marginalized groups (persons with disabilities, and the youth) and a speaker who will be an ex officio member of the assembly.[13][14]

County Governors

History

Embu County governor Martin Nyagah Wambora was the first governor to be impeached following allegations of impropriety.[15][16] His deputy, Dorothy Nditi, replaced him following his impeachment, thereby becoming Kenya's first female county governor.[17]

Current List of Governors

The governors listed below took office on 27 March 2013, unless otherwise noted.

County No Name Governor Deputy GovernorParty
1 Mombasa County Hassan Joho Hazel Ezabel Nyamoki OgundeODM
2 Kwale Salim Mvurya Fatuma Mohamed AchaniODM
3 Kilifi Amason Kingi Kenneth Mwakombo KamtoODM
4 Tana River Tuneya Dado Jire Siyat Mohamed WDM-K
5 Lamu Issa Timamy Erick Kinyua Mugo UDF
6 Taita-Taveta John Mruttu Mary Ndiga KibukaODM
7 Garissa Nathif Jama Adam Abdullahi Hussein Ali WDM-K
8 Wajir Ahmed Abdullahi Mohamad Abdulhafid Abdullahi Yarow ODM
9 Mandera Ibrahim Roba Ali Omar Mohamed MaalimURP
10 Marsabit Ukur Yattani Omar Abdi AliODM
11 Isiolo Godana Doyo Mohamed Gulleid AbdilleURP
12 Meru Peter Munya Raphael MuriungiAPK
13 Tharaka Samuel Ragwa Eliud Mate MuriithiTNA
14 Embu Martin Wambora Dorothy Nditi Muchungu[18]
15 Kitui Julius Malombe Malonza PeninahWDM-K
16 Machakos Alfred Mutua Benard Muia Tom KialaWDM-K
17 Makueni Kivutha Kibwana Adelina Ndeto Mwau MP
18 Nyandarua Daniel Waithaka Waithaka Mwangi Kirika TNA
19 Nyeri Nderitu Gachagua Wamathai Samwel GithaigaGNU
20 Kirinyaga Joseph Ndathi Julius Muthike NjiriTNA
21 Muranga Mwangi wa Iria Augustine J Gakure MonyoTNA
22 Kiambu William Gitau Gerald Gakuha Githinji TNA
23 Turkana Josphat Nanok Peter Ekai LokoelODM
24 West Pokot Simon Kitalei Titus LoteeKANU
25 Samburu Moses Kasaine Joseph LemarkatURP
26 Trans-Nzoia Patrick Khaemba Stanley Kiptoo Kenei TarusFORD-KENYA
27 Uasin Gishu Jackson Mandago Daniel Kiplagat KiprotichURP
28 Elgeyo-Marakwet Alex Tolgos Gabriel Lagat KosgeyURP
29 Nandi Lagat Cleophas Dominic Kimutai Biwott URP
30 Baringo Benjamin Cheboi Mathew Kipyator TuitoekURP
31 Laikipia Joshua Irungu Josphat Gitonga KabugiTNA
32 Nakuru Kinuthia Mbugua Joseph Kibore RuttoTNA
33 Narok Samuel ole Tunai Aruasa Evalyn ChepkiruiURP
34 Kajiado David ole Nkedianye Paul Mpute NtiatiODM
35 Kericho Paul Kiprono Susan Chepkoech KikwaiURP
36 Bomet Isaac Ruto Stephen Kipkoech Mutai URP
37 Kakamega Wycliffe Oparanya Philip Museve KutimaODM
38 Vihiga Moses Akaranga Caleb Temba AmaswachePPK
39 Bungoma Ken Lusaka Hillary Moywo ChongwonyNFK
40 Busia Sospeter Ojaamong Kizito Osore WangalwaODM
41 Siaya Cornel Rasanga Wilson Ouma OnyangoODM
42 Kisumu Jack Ranguma Ruth Adhiambo Odinga BusiaODM
43 Homabay Cyprian Awiti Hamiliton Onyango OrataODM
44 Migori Zacharia Obado Nelson Mahanga MwitaPDP
45 Kisii James Ongwae Arthur Maangi GongeraODM
46 Nyamira John Obiero Amos Kimwomi Nyaribo ODM
47 Nairobi County Evans Kidero J. Mwangangi MuekeODM

See also

References

  1. ↑ Article 6, Devolution and access to Services, The 2010 Constitution of Kenya
  2. ↑ Article 98, (1) (a), Membership of the Senate, the 2010 Constitution of Kenya
  3. ↑ Article 97, (1) (b) Membership of the National Assembly, The 2010 Constitution of Kenya
  4. ↑ Kenyan County Commissioners Re-Organised Under New Structure, http://allafrica.com/stories/201307230067.html
  5. ↑ Kenya National Bureau of Statistics; and the final report of the IEBC as ratified in the National Assembly Constituencies and County Assembly Wards Order, 2012.
  6. ↑ County Governments Act, 2012
  7. ↑ "2. County Governments". Kenya Law Reform Commission. 29 August 2012.
  8. ↑ "179. County executive committees". Kenya Law Reform Commission. 29 August 2012.
  9. ↑ "180. Election of county governor and deputy county governor". Kenya Law Reform Commission. 29 August 2012.
  10. ↑ Appointment of county secretary, Section 44, County Government Act 2012
  11. ↑ "SHITANDA, WANJIRU OUT OVER DEGREES". The Standard. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  12. ↑ Article 177, (1) Membership of a County Assembly, The 2010 Constitution of Kenya.
  13. ↑ Article 177 (c), The 2010 Constitution of Kenya
  14. ↑
  15. ↑ "Embu governor Martin Wambora found guilty of 3 out of 5 allegations". Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  16. ↑ "County assembly members impeach Embu governor". Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  17. ↑ "Nditi to be acting Embu Governor, court rules". Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  18. ↑ "Embu new governor assures she is equal to the task". Nation Media Group. Retrieved 15 February 2014.

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