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Government creates 24 new districts

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Published on Thursday, 12 February 2009 03:51

President Kibaki has created 24 new districts. Central Province, the President’s home turf, bagged 15 of the 24 proposed districts.In Nyanza, Siaya, Migori and Nyando districts have been subdivided. In Siaya, Kibaki has created Ugenya District covering the vast Ugenya and Uholo. Nyatike was hived off Migori, while Nyakach was sliced from Nyando District. In Kisii, the Government created North Masaba District.

Two months ago, the President also created another district hived off Homa Bay District, known as Ndhiwa.The proposal to sub-divide Rachuonyo into Mumbo and Karachuonyo districts did not get the President’s nod. "This is great development for this country. This will enable Government to devolve funds to the grassroots to reinforce other funds like the Constituency Development Fund," said Internal Security Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode.

"No one should stop the Government from devolving funds to the people. Let us stop this idea of rushing to courts for political expediency to delay the creation of new districts," the minister said. Apart from Nyanza and Central, other beneficiaries include Eastern Province, where Kathozweni, Masinga and Mukaa districts were created.

New districts in Central include Kirinyaga Central, Kirinyaga South, Kirinyaga East and Kirinyaga West, Thika East, Thika West, Nyandarua, Mukurwe-ini, Lari, Murang’a East, Murang’a West and Kipipiri. But even as a list of the new districts was rolled out, residents of Kajiado North, one of the districts hived off Kajiado District, have moved to court to block the move.

The residents argue that the President did not consult them before the gazette notice of December 5 was issued. On Monday, Nyatike MP Edick Anyanga praised the creation of the new administrative areas. "These districts make regions self reliant. In Nyanza, we need more than ten other districts for proper co-ordination of administration," the MP said.  A Kenya Gazette notice issued on Friday brings to 197, the number of districts in Kenya.