In a significant development for Isiolo County, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has confirmed that Oldonyiro and Sericho sub-counties will be fully operational by the end of July 2025.
This milestone follows relentless advocacy by Isiolo Woman Representative Mumina Bonaya, who has been instrumental in pushing for their establishment to enhance governance and service delivery in the region.
A Triumph for Grassroots Representation
Mumina Bonaya has long championed the need for improved administrative structures in Isiolo County.
Her advocacy has centered on bringing government services closer to the people, strengthening security, and improving socio-economic opportunities for the residents.
The confirmation by CS Murkomen marks a significant victory in her push to bridge the gap between the national government and local communities.
Speaking before the National Assembly, Murkomen assured legislators that in addition to Oldonyiro and Sericho sub-counties, several new locations and sub-locations will be established to streamline governance.
The announcement was met with widespread approval, particularly from Bonaya, who reiterated her unwavering commitment to ensuring national government services are accessible to all corners of Isiolo County.
“I remain steadfast in my push to have national government services brought closer to the people of Isiolo. The establishment of these sub-counties is a crucial step towards achieving this goal,” Bonaya remarked.
Budgetary Constraints Hampering Progress
Despite the positive announcement, the operationalization of newly gazetted administrative units across Kenya has faced considerable delays due to budgetary constraints.
CS Murkomen highlighted this challenge while appearing before the National Assembly during Question Time, as per Article 124 of the Constitution and Standing Order 42A (6B).
These provisions allow Cabinet Secretaries to respond directly to parliamentary inquiries.
The matter was raised by Joseph Tonui, MP for Kuresoi, and Mumina Bonaya, both of whom expressed concern over the slow progress in making these units functional.
While Tonui sought clarity on the status of administrative units in Kuresoi, Bonaya demanded a clear timeline for the operationalization of those in Isiolo County.
“The newly established administrative units in Isiolo County were gazetted in March 2022. Three years down the line, nothing has been done. Can the CS provide a clear timeline for when these units will be operational?” Bonaya questioned.
In response, Murkomen acknowledged that a lack of budgetary planning before gazetting these units had contributed to the delay.
He revealed that a staggering 45 sub-counties, 291 divisions, 1,439 locations, and 2,693 sub-locations had been gazetted but remained non-operational due to financial constraints.
“Owing to acute budgetary limitations, the ministry has been hard-pressed to operationalize all the gazetted units. Instead, we have opted to phase the process based on factors such as security concerns, geographical vastness, population density, minority representation, and existing infrastructure,” Murkomen stated.
Prioritization and Future Plans
The Ministry of Interior has prioritized the operationalization of 24 sub-counties, 88 divisions, 318 locations, and 675 sub-locations for the 2024/2025 Financial Year.
Murkomen assured that, despite the lack of specific budgetary allocation for administrative unit establishment in the current fiscal year, the Ministry is leveraging budgetary reallocations from development and recurrent expenditure to ensure service delivery.
To prevent similar delays in the future, the Ministry is developing regulations that will guide the gazettement of new administrative units.
These guidelines aim to ensure that financial provisions are made before gazetting, avoiding situations where newly declared administrative units remain non-functional due to inadequate funding.
Implications for Isiolo County
For the people of Oldonyiro, Sericho, and the broader Isiolo County, the operationalization of these administrative units is expected to yield numerous benefits.
Improved security, better governance, and easier access to essential government services will significantly impact the region’s development.
The decision also underscores the importance of strong representation at the national level, with Bonaya’s advocacy proving instrumental in securing this long-awaited development.
As the July 2025 deadline approaches, residents and stakeholders will be keenly monitoring the implementation process.
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With continued oversight from leaders like Mumina Bonaya, the hope is that the operationalization of Oldonyiro and Sericho sub-counties will mark the beginning of a new era of development and service delivery in Isiolo County.
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