Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi…Photo/Courtesy.
By I.P. reporter.
NAIROBI, KENYA.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi is facing mounting criticism following the gazettement of 27 new sub-counties, 59 divisions, 170 locations, and 322 sub-locations.
Local leaders and residents from Western Kenya accusing him of failing to represent the region’s interests.
Despite its significant population growth, Western Kenya,home to Bungoma, Kakamega, Busia, Vihiga, and Trans Nzoia counties was notably absent from the allocations.
The Ministry of Interior announced the administrative changes on Nov. 26, citing population growth as the key driver behind the new units.
The government claimed the move would improve service delivery, enhance security, and bring services closer to citizens across Kenya.
However, critics argue that Mudavadi, as a key principal in the Kenya Kwanza coalition, failed to prioritize the needs of his political stronghold.
Western Kenya’s omission is particularly glaring when juxtaposed with its demographic realities.
Bungoma County, with nine sub-counties, has a population of approximately 1.67 million.
Key regions like Kanduyi and Bumula are densely populated, with Kanduyi having over 118,000 registered voters, yet residents must travel long distances to access government services.
Similarly, Kakamega County, home to about 1.87 million people, has 12 sub-counties, including Malava and Lurambi, which have experienced significant growth in recent years.
Residents in these areas struggle with the lack of proximate administrative services despite increasing population pressures.
The new sub-counties established include regions like Magarini South, Maua, Tharaka West, Engineer and others, leaving Western Kenya entirely unrepresented in the list.
Some areas, such as Embakasi Central, were merely renamed rather than created, further exacerbating frustrations in the West.
Activists and leaders in Bungoma and Kakamega counties have expressed disappointment, questioning Mudavadi’s influence within the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Joab Butalia, a political activist from Bungoma County, criticized the Prime CS for failing to advocate for the region.
“Kindiki, Ruto, and Raila have secured gains for their regions, but where was Mudavadi during negotiations? His failure to secure administrative units for Western Kenya is an insult to our people,” Butalia said.
The criticisms also extend to the broader Kenya Kwanza coalition, which many in Western Kenya feel has neglected the region’s development agenda despite Mudavadi’s senior role in government.
In defending the gazettement, Mudavadi emphasized that the new administrative units were informed by population growth and were designed to align with the ministry’s population ratio standards.
“We have officially established 578 new administrative units across the country. These units will improve citizens’ access to government services and address security issues effectively,” the Ministry of Interior said in a statement.
The government listed sub-counties such as Tharaka West, Siaya West, and Kolowa as beneficiaries, but the lack of allocations for Kakamega and Bungoma stands out, given their large populations and administrative challenges.
Political observers have warned that the exclusion of Western Kenya could alienate voters ahead of the 2027 elections.
Leaders from the region are now calling for a review of the gazettement, arguing that the move underscores the region’s marginalization in national politics.
“Mudavadi must leverage his position to fight for equitable resource distribution. Western Kenya cannot remain a pawn in national politics,” Butalia said.
As frustrations grow, residents and leaders are looking for immediate action to address the perceived inequities.
The gazettement, hailed in other parts of the country, has left Western Kenya feeling abandoned by one of its most prominent political figures.
Ends.
