D emo c r a c y : R u l e o f l aw, r e p r e s e n t a t i o n a n d p a r t i c i p a t i o n municipalities will have ‘professional’ managers competitively recruited by the CPSB, they will be answerable to a board of 11 and nine, respectively, and will be required to implement the board’s decisions. The system of checks and balances is promoted under this structure through the recruitment process of board members. Whereas the CEC, chaired by the governor, will competitively recruit and appoint board members, the county assembly has powers to vet and approve all appointees before they take office.16 This means that the powers of a governor to influence recruitment and appointment of board members is curtailed or limited. Successes and challenges so far At the county level, most administrative organs such as the CEC, CPSB, CASB, sub-counties, wards and villages have been created. A number of counties have already hired or are in the process of hiring key personnel to staff the county government administrative units. Despite this progress, a few challenges are emerging that are slowing the transition process. First, the system of checks and balances, especially through the vetting process of governor’s appointees, while promoting democracy has slowed down the policy implementation process. For instance, some counties – like Nakuru, Kiambu, Nairobi and Laikipia – are yet to properly constitute the CEC because their county assemblies refused to approve the governors’ nominees for various reasons, including the ethnic origin of some nominees. The CEC is a key policy making organ in the county government and any delay in approving these nominees adversely affects county policy processes. COUNTY GOVERNMENT Urban sub-county units Rural sub-county units LEVEL 1: City • Population at least 500,000 • Governed by a board of 11 part-time members on behalf of county government – not paid but given allowances • Board a corporate body – appointed by governor subject to CA approval • Daily operations run by a manager hired by the CPSB – but answerable to the board LEVEL 2: Municipality • Population at least 250,000 • Governed by a board of nine members – not paid • Board is a corporate body – appointed by governor subject to CA approval – members are part-timers • Daily operations run by a manager hired by the CPSB – but answerable to the board LEVEL 3: Town • Population of at least 10,000 • Governed by a committee of nine appointed by governor upon approval by county assembly • Not a corporate body • Daily operations run by an administrator hired by the CPSB Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2013/14 16 Figure 1: Three-tier administrative units of county governments in Kenya LEVEL 1: Sub-county (Constituencies) • Run by an administrator competitively recruited by CPSB • Answerable to relevant county chief officer • Administrator facilitates citizen participation • Exercises functions/powers delegated by the CPSB • Manages, co-ordinates and supervises general administrative functions LEVEL 2: Ward • Run by an administrator recruited by the CPSB • Co-ordinates, manages and supervises ward administrative functions • In charge of service delivery at the ward level • Answerable to sub-county administrator LEVEL 3: Village • Run by an administrator recruited by the CPSB • Co-ordinates, manages and supervises villages administrative functions • In charge of service delivery at the village level • Answerable to relevant ward administrator Source: Adapted from: the County Governments Act 2012 and the Urban Areas and Cities Act 2011
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