List of Counties and Sub-Counties in Kenya

Sub-counties, also referred to as Districts, serve as decentralized units through which the government of Kenya delivers functions and services. List of Counties and Sub-Counties in Kenya. At the national level, sub-counties primarily fulfill administrative roles such as security, statistical purposes, and the provision of government services. Despite being subdivisions of counties, the authority to establish new national sub-counties rests with the national government. As of 2023, there are 314 sub-counties, compared to 290 constituencies. Each sub-county is overseen by a deputy county commissioner appointed by the state. Sub-counties are further segmented into divisions, locations, and sub-locations.

The introduction of districts in Kenya traces back to the colonial era, when they were implemented by the colonial government to facilitate the control and management of the colony. The number of districts varied during the colonial period. Districts, headed by District Commissioners (DC), served as the second level of administration after the provinces. In 1962, during the transition to self-rule, the colonial government adjusted the districts, capping them at forty, along with the Nairobi Area. The bicameral parliament required each district to send one senator to the Senate. However, in 1966, an amendment to the constitution abolished the Senate, rendering districts purely administrative. By 1992, one district had been abolished, while five new ones were created by dividing existing districts. By the turn of the 21st century, more districts were established, reaching a total of seventy-two by 2005 and 265 by 2010. In 2009, the High Court deemed all districts created after 1992 illegal, though they continued to function.

Under the former Constitution of Kenya, the provinces were subdivided into districts (wilaya). Following the implementation of the 2010 Constitution and the devolved government system, the provinces, their administrators, and districts were replaced by county commissioners at the county level. Existing districts as of 2013 were reorganized as sub-counties, with Deputy Commissioners appointed over them.

At the county government level, with the exception of urban areas, sub-counties align with the constituencies created under Article 89 of the Constitution of Kenya. In some instances, constituencies are referred to as ‘sub-counties’ at the county management level, although they differ significantly from national-level sub-counties. Each sub-county has a sub-county administrator appointed by the County Public Service Board. Sub-counties, or constituencies, in this case, are further divided into wards and villages. County governments are responsible for appointing administrators at both decentralized levels.

Here is a List of Counties and Sub-Counties in Kenya