46 Districts of 1993

Introduction

Political events in the mid-sixties led to the abolition of the Regions as the ruling party KANU sought to consolidate power from the Regions to the center.

The Senate was scrapped and Senators were absorbed into the National Assembly as Members of Parliament (MPs).

During this transition, local governments known as Municipal and Town Councils took over some of the lesser legislative powers and responsibilities of the Regional Assemblies and Regional Committees respectively, after the former were scrapped.

Brief History of Boundaries: From Regions to Provinces

Although the journey from the 40 Districts of 1963, to 46 Districts and Nairobi took 30 or so years, the additional six districts of Makueni, Vihiga, Nyamira, Migori, Nyamira, Tharaka-Nithi, Vihiga, Makueni, and Bomet, were actually hived off in the late 1980's and in the early 90s. However, by 1967, the Regions themselves had been renamed to Provinces.

Some Districts were also renamed, such as Central Nyanza District which was renamed Kisumu District in 1967 upon its split to create Siaya District.

The following tables show both the Districts that were created and the mother District from which they were hived-off. The District populations given are based on the 1999 National Population Census.

1. Migori District was hived-off South Nyanza District in 1992

2. Nyamira District was hived-off Kisii District in 1989

3. Tharaka-Nithi was hived-off Meru District in 1992

4. Vihiga was hived-off Kakamega District in 1990

5. Makueni District was hived-off Machakos District in 1992

 6. Bomet District was hived-off Kericho District in 1992

The Districts and Provinces Act, 1992, Chapter 105A of the Laws of Kenya contains details of the boundaries of each of the 47 Districts, and the 8 Provinces comprising the Republic of Kenya.

Decentralisation/Devolution?

The underlying reasons for the various post-independence splits were part administrative and part political. Kisii and Kericho Districts were split majorly for reasons of population, while Machakos was split both for reasons of population and size. All in all, the idea was to bring central government services closer to the people of the Provinces.

The Central Government was represented by the Provincial Administration, PA. The head of the Province was called a Provincial Commissioner, and that of a District was called a District Commissioner. Divisions within a District were headed by a District Officer or DO, and locations and sub-locations within a Division were headed by a Chief and sub-Chief respectively.

Essentially what was in existence then was decentralisation and not devolution. The local Town and Municipal Councils could make locally applicable by-laws and collect levies, and nothing more. They were composed of elected officials of the Wards known as Councilors. The Central government also stationed legal officers to the Councils, known as Clerks, and who wielded the real executive power at the local government level.

References:

1. District Strategic Plans 2005-2010 for the National Population Policy for Sustainable Development. National Coordination Agency for Population and Development NCAPD.

2. Africanizing Knowledge: African Studies Across the Disciplines (2002). Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick, New Jersey.

3. Districts and Provinces Act, 1992, Chapter 105A of the Laws of Kenya. National Council for Law Reporting. The Attorney General.