In much of northern Kenya, the challenge has never simply been development. It has been distance.
In some areas, residents have had to travel for hours – sometimes across difficult terrain – to access basic government services, report security concerns or obtain official documents.
It is against this backdrop that the government has, since 2022, accelerated the creation of new sub-counties, divisions, locations and sub-locations across Wajir, Mandera and Garissa counties.
The objective is straightforward: bring government services closer to people living in some of Kenya’s most remote regions.
The three counties cover roughly 120,000 square kilometres and are home to about 2.5 million people spread across vast borderland areas.
Low population density, poor infrastructure and long travel distances have historically made service delivery difficult.
To address this, the government has expanded administrative units and deployed additional National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs), including Deputy County Commissioners, Assistant County Commissioners, Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs.
In Wajir, the administrative network now includes 15 sub-counties, 35 divisions, 228 locations and 264 sub-locations.
New administrative units have also been established in Mandera and Garissa to serve communities that previously fell far from government centres.
The thinking is that a government office located closer to residents makes it easier to access services such as national identification registration, birth certificates, social protection programmes and other public services.
Security
The expansion is also tied to security.
Northern Kenya shares borders with Somalia, Ethiopia and South Sudan, making the region strategically important in efforts to combat terrorism, cross-border crime, arms trafficking and livestock theft.
NGAO officers often serve as the first point of contact between government and communities.
Because many are embedded within local communities and understand local dynamics, they play a key role in gathering information, resolving disputes and identifying emerging security threats before they escalate.
Areas such as Dadaab, Liboi, Elwak, Takaba and Kotulo remain particularly important because of their proximity to international borders and the security challenges associated with those regions.
Administrative Units
Government officials argue that administrative units are not only governance structures but also catalysts for development.
The establishment of a new sub-county headquarters often attracts investment in roads, communications, water infrastructure and public services.
It can also stimulate local economic activity by creating demand for businesses, housing and support services.
For counties such as Wajir, Mandera and Garissa – which have significant livestock resources, renewable energy potential and strategic trade links with neighbouring countries – improved governance and security are seen as essential foundations for economic growth.
Impact
At its core, the expansion of administrative units in northern Kenya is an attempt to reduce the distance between citizens and government.
Whether through faster access to services, improved security coordination or stronger state presence in remote areas, the policy reflects a broader effort to integrate historically underserved regions into the country’s development agenda.
For communities that have long felt far removed from government services, the measure is intended to ensure that where a Kenyan lives does not determine how easily they can access the state.
