Local authorities of Kenya

Local authorities in Kenya are the bodies controlling local governance in urban areas in Kenya.

From the 2013 general elections onwards Kenya will have three classes of local authorities: City’forms, Municipality, and Town authorities. Subject to the Urban Areas and Cities Act of 2011, there are four authorities with city status: Nairobi, the national capital, Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru. Municipalities and towns are other forms of urban authorities and are generally named after their central town.

Local authorities usually differ from divisional and constituency boundaries used by the state administration.

Under the former act of parliament local authority administration consisted of a mayor, town clerk and councillors. The number of councillors depended on population and area of each authority and they were elected by the public during the Kenya general elections held every five years or by-elections held in between. Authorities were divided into wards and each ward elects only one councillor. Wards have often common boundaries with administrative locations.

Compared to many other countries, local authorities in Kenya were weak and are shadowed by state run administration However, during the international Africities summit held in Nairobi September 2006, the Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki promised to strengthen local authorities.

Under Kenya’s new devolved system of government, the elected councils were dissolved and are set to be replaced by boards, in the case of city councils, and administrators, in the case of municipal and town councils, appointed by the county governments.

List of local authorities in Kenya

These are the local authorities, dissolved in 2013, that operated under the old local authorities act.

Nairobi County

• Nairobi city

Kiambu County

• Kiambu municipality
• Kiambu county council
• Limuru municipality
• Kikuyu town council
• Karuri town council

Kirinyaga County

• Kerugoya/Kutus municipality
• Kirinyaga county council
• Sagana town council

Nyandarua County

• Ol Kalou town council
• Nyandarua county council

Nyeri County

• Nyeri municipality
• Nyeri county council
• Karatina municipality
• Othaya town council

Murang’a County

• Murang’a District
  • Murang’a municipality
  • Murang’a county council
  • Kangema town council
• Maragua District
  • Maragua town council
  • Maragua county council
  • Kandara town council
  • Makuyu town council

Kilifi County

• Kilifi town council
• Kilifi county council
• Mariakani town council

Kwale County

• Kwale town council
• Kwale county council

Lamu County

• Lamu county council

Mombasa County

• Mombasa municipality

Taita-Taveta County

• Taita-Taveta county council
• Taveta town council
• Voi municipality

Tana River County

• Tana river- Hola
• Tana delta- Garseni
• Tana north – Bura

Embu County

• Embu municipality
• Embu county council
• Runyenjes municipality

Isiolo County

• Isiolo county council

Kitui County

• Kitui municipality
• Kitui county council

Makueni County

• Wote town council
• Makueni county council
• Mtito Andei town council

Machakos County

• Machakos municipality
• Masaku county council
• Mavoko municipality (Athi River town)
• Kangundo town council
• Matuu town council

Marsabit County

• Marsabit county council
• Moyale county council

Meru County

• Meru Central District
  • Meru municipality
  • Meru county council
• Meru North District (Nyambene District)
  • Maua 0796845615municipality
  • Myambene county council

Tharaka-Nithi County

• Meru South District
  • Chuka municipality
  • Chogoria town council
  • Meru south county council
• Tharaka District
  • Tharaka county council

Garissa County

• Garissa municipality
• Garissa county council

Mandera County

• Mandera town council
• Mandera county council

Wajir County

• Wajir county council

Homa Bay County

• Homa Bay municipality
• Homa Bay county council

Kisii County

• Kisii Central District
  • Kisii municipality
  • Gusii county council
  • Keroka town council
  • Suneka town council
  • Masimba town council

Nyamira County

• Nyamira town council
• Nyamira county council
• Nyansiongo town council

Kisumu County

• Kisumu municipality
• Kisumu county council

Migori County

• Kuria District
  • Kehancha municipality
• Migori District
  • Migori municipality
  • Migori county council
  • Rongo town council
  • Awendo town council
• Rachuonyo District
  • Oyugis town council
  • Kendu Bay town council
  • Rachuonyo county council

Siaya County

• Siaya municipality
• Siaya county council
• Yala town council
• Ugunja town council
• Ukwala town council

Baringo County

• Baringo District
  • Kabarnet municipality
  • Baringo county council

Bomet County

• Bomet municipality
• Bomet county council

Elgeyo Marakwet County

• Keiyo District
  • Iten/Tambach town council
  • Keiyo county council
• Marakwet District
  • Marakwet county council

Kajiado County

• Kajiado town council
• Olkejuado county council

Kericho County

• Kericho municipality
• Kipsigis county council
• Londiani town council
• Kipkelion town council

Laikipia County

• Nanyuki municipality
• Laikipia county council
• Nyahururu municipality
• Rumuruti town council

Nakuru County

• Nakuru city
• Nakuru County Council
• Naivasha municipality
• Molo municipality
• Gilgil municipality

Nandi County

• Kapsabet municipality
• Nandi county council
• Nandi Hills town council

Narok County

• Narok town council
• Narok county council

Samburu County

• Maralal town council
• Samburu county council

Trans-Nzoia County

• Kitale municipality
• Nzoia county council

Turkana County

• Lodwar municipality
• Turkana county council
• Nanam Ward in Turkana West serves as the main source of minerals, contact Lokarach Titus for more details. 0720703380

Uasin Gishu County

• Eldoret municipality
• Wareng county council
• Burnt Forest town council

West Pokot County

• Kapenguria municipality
• Pokot county council
• Chepareria town council

Bungoma County

• Bungoma municipality
• Bungoma county council
• Kimilili municipality
• Sirisia town council
• Malakisi town council
• Webuye municipality

Busia County

• Busia municipality
• Busia county council
• Funyula town council
• Nambale town council
• Port Victoria town council

Kakamega County

• Kakamega municipality
• Kakamega county council
• Malava town council

Vihiga County

• Vihiga municipality
• Vihiga county council
• Luanda town council