Provincial governance revamp begins

The restructuring of the Provincial Administration has started in line with the new Constitution.

Technocrats have been assembled to work on the finer details of the order in 2013.

With the abolishment of provinces, provincial commissioners will be sent to the counties, the main units in the devolved system.

The new Constitution requires the government to restructure the Provincial Administration in the next five years to respect the new county structure.

Highly placed sources at the President’s Office confirmed that the new structure will see PCs and their deputies serving as county commissioners. There are eight PCs and 20 deputy PCs.

“A team is creating a model which the new structure will follow. This is a priority especially because provinces have been abolished,” the source said.

“There will be administrative officers at the divisions, while chiefs and assistant chiefs will continue to exist, but their roles will be redefined to avoid clashing with those of county government officials. “The villager elder may also become a formal office with allowances,” said the source.

Anxiety has built up that the new order would have no place for the Provincial Administration.

Internal Security permanent secretary Francis Kimemia said though provinces had been abolished, new administrative units based on the counties would be created.

Gichugu MP Martha Karua said provincial administrators will be renamed to fit the new structures.

“Restructuring does not mean disbandment. They could be called national administrators and county administrators to fit in with the new system but with less powers,” she said.