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Sub-counties, also known as Districts, are the decentralised units through which government of Kenya provides functions and services.[1] At national level, sub-counties take a more administrative function like security, statistical purposes, provision of government services, etc. Even though the sub-counties are divisions of counties, powers to create new national sub-counties lies with the national government. As of 2023, there are 314 sub-counties, compared to 290 constituencies. A deputy county commissioner is appointed by the state to lead each sub-county. The sub-counties are further divided into divisions, locations and sub-locations.
Districts were introduced in Kenya by the colonial government for ease control and management of the colony. The number of districts in Kenya through the colonial period varied. Headed by District Commissioners (DC), districts were the second level of administration after the provinces. In 1962, as the colony was transitioning to self-rule, the colonial government redrew the districts and capped them at forty, in addition to the Nairobi Area.[2] A bicameral parliament meant that the districts were to send one senator to the Senate. In 1966, the Senate was abolished by an amendment to the constitution, making the districts purely administrative. By 1992, one district had been eliminated, six more had been created by splitting some of the existing districts. By the start of the 21st century more districts had been created, and by 2005, seventy two districts were in existence, and by 2010, Kenya had 265 districts. In 2009, the High Court declared all districts created after 1992 unlawful, though they remained functional.
Under the former Constitution of Kenya, the Provinces of Kenya were subdivided into a number of districts (wilaya). In line with restructuring the national administration to fit with the devolved government system brought in by the 2010 Constitution, that came into full effect following elections in March 2013, the 8 provinces and their administrators and districts were replaced by County Commissioners at the county level, while former districts existing as of 2013 were re-organised as sub-counties, and had Deputy Commissioners appointed over them.[3]
At county government level, except for the parts which fall under urban areas, sub-counties coincide with the constituencies created under article 89 of the Constitution of Kenya.[4] In that case, constituencies are sometimes referred to as 'sub-counties' at county management level, but defer significantly from the sub-counties at national level. The sub-counties have a sub-county administrator, appointed by a County Public Service Board.[5] The sub-counties or constituencies in this case are further divided into wards and villages. The county governments are mandated to appoint administrators in both decentralised levels.
As per the 1963 Constitution of Kenya, apart from Nairobi, there were forty districts across the seven semi-autonomus regions of Kenya which later became to be referred as provinces. The districts were represented by a single member in the senate.[6]
Following a High Court ruling in September 2009, there were 46 legal districts in Kenya,[7] excluding Nairobi which constituted a 47th district.
Following the Kenyan general election, 2013, these districts and Nairobi now constitute the 47 counties which will be the basis for rolling out devolution as set out in the 2010 Constitution of Kenya (district headquarters are in parentheses):
All these 46 districts (plus Nairobi) have been replaced with 47 counties since March 2013, promoting them as the first level of administrative subdivisions of the country, and the 8 former provinces (which were the first level of subdivisions) have been dissolved.
New districts started to be created by President Moi, and there were up to 57 districts in 2003 when President Kibaki first came into office.
In early January 2007, 37 new districts were created by the government from the 14 former districts, rising their number to 70.[8][9]
Many more districts have been created since then, such that in July 2009 there were 254 districts (an up to 256 districts plus Nairobi on 20 September 2009, when the High Court outlawed 210 of them).[10]
The creation of new districts has been criticised by opponents for being waste of money and a populist attempt to please local residents. The government, however, say new districts bring services closer to the people and will provide security.[10]
The following list contains 208 districts, taken from a Kenyan government website in July 2009 (the list is incomplete, but their number stopped growing after the High Court decision in September 2009):[11]
| Districts | Headquarters |
| Central Province | |
| Gatanga District | – |
| Gatundu District | Gatundu |
| Githunguri District | Githunguri |
| Kabete District | – |
| Kandara District | – |
| Kiambaa District | Kiambu |
| Kiambu East District | Kiambu |
| Kiambu West District | Limuru |
| Kieni West District | Chaka |
| Kieni East District | Chaka |
| Kigumo District | – |
| Kipipiri District | – |
| Kirinyaga Central District | – |
| Kirinyaga East District | Kerugoya |
| Kirinyaga South District | – |
| Kirinyaga West District | – |
| Lari District | – |
| Mirangini District | – |
| Mukurweini District | Mukurweini |
| Muranga East District | Muranga |
| Muranga South District | Kenol |
| Nyandarua Central District | Ol Kalou |
| Nyandarua North District | Nyahururu |
| Nyandarua South District | Engineer |
| Nyandarua West District | – |
| Nyeri Central District | Nyeri |
| Nyeri East District | Karatina |
| Nyeri South District | Nyeri |
| Ruiru District | – |
| Thika East District | Thika |
| Thika West District | – |
| Coast Province | |
| Kaloleni District | Kizurini |
| Kilifi District | Kilifi |
| Kilindini District | Dongo Kundu |
| Kinango District | Kinango |
| Kwale District | Kwale |
| Lamu District | Lamu |
| Malindi District | Malindi |
| Mombasa District | Mombasa |
| Msabweni District | Msambweni |
| Taita District | Wundanyi |
| Tana Delta District | – |
| Tana River District | Hola |
| Taveta District | Taveta |
| Eastern Province | |
| Buuri District | Timau |
| Embu East District | Rúnyenjes |
| Embu West District | Embu |
| Garbatula District | Garbatula |
| Igembe North District | Laare |
| Igembe South District | Maua |
| Imenti North District | Meru |
| Imenti South District | Nkubu |
| Isiolo District | Isiolo |
| Kangundo District | Kangundo |
| Kathiani District | – |
| Kathonzweni District | – |
| Kibwezi District | Makindu |
| Kilungu District | – |
| Kitui Central District | Kitui |
| Kitui West District | – |
| Kyuso District | Kyuso |
| Maara District | Kieganguru |
| Machakos District | Machakos |
| Makueni District | Wote |
| Marsabit District | Marsabit |
| Marsabit North District | Malkona |
| Marsabit South District | Laisamis |
| Masinga District | – |
| Matungulu District | – |
| Mbeere North District | Siakago |
| Mbeere South District | Kírítirí |
| Mbooni East District | Mbumbuni |
| Mbooni West District | Mbooni |
| Meru Central District | Gatimbi |
| Meru South District | Chuka |
| Moyale District | Moyale |
| Mukaa District | – |
| Mutitu District | – |
| Mutomo District | Mutomo |
| Mwala District | – |
| Mwingi District | Mwingi |
| Nzaui District | – |
| Tharaka North District | Marimanti |
| Tharaka South District | – |
| Tigania East District | Muriri |
| Tigania West District | Urru |
| Yatta District | Kithimani |
| Nairobi Province | |
| Nairobi East District | Komarock |
| Nairobi North District | Kasarani |
| Nairobi West District | Ndararua/J.Kangethe |
| Westlands District | – |
| North Eastern Province | |
| Fafi District | Bura |
| Garissa District | Garissa |
| Ijara District | Masaini |
| Lagdera District | Modogashe |
| Mandera Central District | Mandera |
| Mandera East District | El Wak |
| Mandera North District | Rhamu |
| Mandera West District | Tabaka |
| Wajir East District | Wajir |
| Wajir North District | Bute |
| Wajir South District | Habaswein |
| Wajir West District | Gritu |
| Nyanza Province | |
| Bondo District | Bondo |
| Borabu District | Nyansiongo |
| Gucha District | Ogembo |
| Homa Bay District | Homa Bay |
| Kanyanya District | – |
| Kisii Central District | Kisii |
| Kisii South District | Kerina |
| Kisumu East District | Holo |
| Kisumu West District | Kisumu |
| Kuria East District | Kegonga |
| Kuria West District | Kehancha |
| Manga District | Manga |
| Marani District | – |
| Masaba District | Keroka |
| Mbita District | – |
| Migori District | Migori |
| Ndhiwa District | Ndhiwa |
| North Masaba District | – |
| Nyakach District | Pap Ondit |
| Nyamache District | – |
| Nyamira District | Nyamira |
| Nyamira North District | – |
| Nyando District | Awasi |
| Nyatike District | Macaider |
| Rachuonyo North District | – |
| Rachuonyo South District | – |
| Rarieda District | Madiany |
| Rongo District | Rongo |
| Siaya District | Siaya |
| South Gucha District | Nyamarambe |
| Suba District | Mbita |
| Uriri District | – |
| Rift Valley Province | |
| Baringo Central District | Kabarnet |
| Baringo North District | Kabartonjo |
| Bomet District | Bomet |
| Buret District | Litein |
| East Pokot District | Chemlingot |
| Eldoret East District | Naiberi |
| Eldoret West District | Eldoret |
| Kajiado North District | Kajiado |
| Kajiado South District | – |
| Keiyo District | Iten |
| Kericho District | Kericho |
| Kipkelion District | Kipkelion |
| Koibatek District | Eldama Ravine |
| Kwanza District | Endebess |
| Laikipia Central District | – |
| Laikipia East District | Nanyuki |
| Laikipia North District | Mukogodo |
| Laikipia West District | Rumuruti |
| Loima District | – |
| Loitoktok District | Loitoktok |
| Marakwet District | Kapsowar |
| Marigat District | – |
| Mogotio District | – |
| Molo District | Molo |
| Naivasha District | Naivasha |
| Nakuru District | Nakuru Town |
| Nakuru North District | Bahati |
| Nandi Central District | Kapsabet |
| Nandi East District | - |
| Nandi North District | Kabiyet |
| Nandi South District | Kabujoi |
| Narok North District | Narok |
| Narok South District | Olulunga |
| Njoro District | – |
| North Pokot District | Kacheliba |
| Nyahururu District | Nyahururu |
| Pokot Central District | Sighor |
| Samburu Central District | Maralal |
| Samburu East District | Wamba |
| Samburu North District | Baragoi |
| Sotik District | Sotik |
| Tinderet District | Maraba |
| Trans Nzoia East District | Maili Saba |
| Trans Nzoia West District | Kitale |
| Trans Mara District | Kilgoris |
| Turkana Central District | Lodwar |
| Turkana East District | – |
| Turkana North District | Lokitaung |
| Turkana South District | Lokichar |
| Turkana West District | – |
| Wareng District | Kesses |
| West Pokot District | Kapenguria |
| Western Province | |
| Bungoma Central District | Chwele |
| Bungoma East District | Webuye |
| Bungoma North District | Kimilili |
| Bungoma South District | Bungoma |
| Bungoma West District | Sirisia |
| Bunyula District | Budalangi |
| Busia District | Busia |
| Butere District | Butere |
| Emuhaya District | Kima |
| Hamisi District | Hamisi |
| Kakamega Central District | Kakamega |
| Kakamega East District | Shinyalu |
| Kakamega North District | Malava |
| Kakamega South District | Malinya |
| Lugari District | Lumakanda |
| Mt. Elgon District | Kapsokwony |
| Mumias District | Mumias |
| Samia District | Funyula |
| Teso North District | Amagoro |
| Teso South District | Amakura |
| Vihiga District | Mbale |
In August 2009, however, the High Court of Kenya declared all districts created after 1992 illegal. The judge stated that the districts were created "in complete disregard of the law". As a result, Kenya had only 46 legal districts (excluding Nairobi with its special constitutional status as the capital of the country).[12] Following the March 2013 elections, these 46 districts – together with the City of Nairobi – constitute the 47 counties into which Kenya is now divided administratively, and they are also the 47 constituencies for the elections to the National Senate.
All the former districts have disappeared (as well as the former 8 provinces whose devolution was transferred to the new 47 counties), and are now considered only as "sub-counties", without autonomy; they are used in urban areas for a limited organisation for providing public services locally. These remaining sub-counties are transitional and could be replaced by more efficient cooperative structures grouping the local services in organised cities and their surrounding towns, either for dedicated missions or for temporary plans; so they may be deeply reorganised or disappear at any time. The remaining sub-counties already do not match with the subdivision of the new 47 counties into electoral-only "wards" (based on resident population, to determine the number of elected seats for each county in the National Senate.
Nairobi sub-counties
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