Distribution and Functions of the National and County Governments in Kenya.

1. Functions of the
National and County
Governments in Kenya
By Michael Jumba

2. Contents
• Introduction
• Functions of the National Government
• Functions of the County Government

3. Introduction
• The Kenya Constitution 2010 was promulgated and
came into force on August 27th 2010. This effectively
moved the nation from a centralized system of self
governance to a devolved one.
• The new system was supposed to promote bottom-up
(Public participation) as opposed to top-down approach
to development thereby ensuring areas which have been
marginalized over the years get long deserving
development.

4. Introduction (continued)
• However, six years since its promulgation, a majority of
Kenyans are still ignorant of the functions of the national
government and those of the county governments.
• This has led the public to resort to engaging in ignorant
criticism-blaming either the National or County
governments for not providing required services
oblivious of the separation of power and the distribution
of functions.
• With no efforts to raise public awareness on sight, it
seems correct to assume that both levels of government
are profiting from this ignorance.

5. Introduction (continued)
• Chapter nine of the Kenya Constitution 2010 delineates
the principles and structure of the National government
while chapter eleven delineates the objects and
principles of the devolved government.
• The Fourth Schedule of the Kenya Constitution 2010
outlines the distribution of functions between the national
government and the county governments. A total of thirty
four functions are a preserve of the National government
while fourteen functions are a preserve of the County
governments as follows:

6. Functions of the National
Government

7. Functions of the National
Government
1. Foreign affairs, foreign policy and international trade.
2. The use of international waters and water resources.
3. Immigration and citizenship.
4. The relationship between religion and state.
5. Language policy and the promotion of official and local
languages.
6. National defense and the use of the national defense
services.

8. Functions of the National
Government (Continued)
7. Police services
8. Courts.
9. National economic policy and planning.
10.Monetary policy, currency, banking (including central
banking), the incorporation and regulation of banking,
insurance and financial corporations.
11.National statistics and data on population, the economy
and society generally.
12.Intellectual property rights.
13.Labour standards.

9. Functions of the National
Government (Continued)
14.Consumer protection, including standards for social
security and professional pension plans.
15.Education policy, standards, curricula, examinations
and the granting of university charters.
16.Universities, tertiary educational institutions and other
institutions of research and higher learning and primary
schools , special education, secondary schools and
special education institutions.

10. Functions of the National
Government (Continued)
17. Promotion of sports and sports education.
18. Transport and communications
19. National public works.
20. Housing policy.
21. General principles of land planning and the co-
ordination of planning by the counties.
22. Protection of the environment and natural resources
with a view to establishing a durable and sustainable
system of development

11. Functions of the National
Government (Continued)
23.National referral health facilities.
24.Disaster management.
25.Ancient and historical monuments of national
importance.
26.National elections.
27.Health policy.
28.Agricultural policy.
29.Veterinary policy.

12. Functions of the National
Government (Continued)
30.Energy policy including electricity and gas reticulation
and energy regulation.
31.Capacity building and technical assistance to the
counties.
32.Public investment.
33.National betting, casinos and other forms of gambling.
34.Tourism policy and development.

13. Functions of the County
Governments

14. Functions of the County
Governments
1. Agriculture, including
2. County health services
3. Control of air pollution, noise pollution, other public
nuisances and outdoor advertising.
4. Cultural activities, public entertainment and public
amenities
5. County transport
6. Animal control and welfare
7. Trade development and regulation

15. Functions of the County
Governments (Continued)
8. County planning and development
9. Pre-primary education, village polytechnics, homecraft
centres and childcare facilities.
10.Implementation of specific national government policies
on natural resources and environmental conservation.
11.County public works and services
12.Fire fighting services and disaster management
13.Control of drugs and pornography

16. Functions of the County
Governments (Continued)
14.Ensuring and coordinating the participation of
communities and locations in governance at the local
level and assisting communities and locations to
develop the administrative capacity for the effective
exercise of the functions and powers and participation
in governance at the local level.

17. Thank You for Your time…

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