End Of An Era For The Powerful Kenya Provincial Administration

PCs are to lose their powerful positions as the new Constitution takes effect.

Internal Security permanent secretary Francis Kimemia and Government spokesman Alfred Mutua on Thursday said the Provincial Administration would be restructured in line with the new law.

“We have already started restructuring the unit to make it fit into the devolved system. The provinces have been abolished by the new Constitution,” Mr Kimemia said.

Dr Mutua said some positions will be phased out and others created to ensure the office holders continue serving the government at other levels.

“Some positions may become extinct and new ones may be created. So I don’t want to pre-empt. As a result, Regional Commissioners will soon be deployed to counties,” he said.

Mr Kimemia spoke at the Kenya Institute of Administration where he opened an advanced course in public administration for 50 senior administrators, while Dr Mutua spoke at his weekly press briefing in Nairobi.

Two weeks ago, it was disclosed that high level government consultations were taking place to determine the new face of the provincial administration since executive powers in counties will be exercise by elected governors.

On Thursday, Mr Kimemia said though provinces would be replaced by 47 counties, the administrators will remain part of the national government dealing with security matters. Districts, divisions, locations and sub locations will also not be abolished.

“Coordination of security agencies at every given level will be another important function of the national government—which you will be expected to undertake effectively,” held told the administrators.

He asked the administrators to familiarise themselves with the new law and structure of government.

According to the new Constitution, national security and defence, foreign affairs and international trade, immigration and citizenship, national economic and monetary policy, courts, education, transport and health policy, among others, will be run by the national government.

County governments will take charge of, among others agriculture, county health, animal control and welfare, trade development and planning, county transport, fire-fighting and pre-primary education.

Meanwhile, the Union of Kenya Civil Servants has expressed fears over job security of its members under the new dispensation.

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