Kisumu County has moved to transfer key urban services worth billions of shillings from the central county government to five municipalities in a major governance shift that will change how services are delivered across the region.
Governor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o announced the changes through a fresh Gazette notice, effectively stripping the county government of direct control over several critical functions and handing them over to town-level administrations.
The municipalities set to take over the new responsibilities are Ahero‑Awasi, Maseno‑Holo, Kombewa Bodi, Katito‑Pap Onditi and Muhoroni‑Chemelil.
The transfer will take effect from July 1, 2026, marking one of the most far-reaching devolution measures seen at the county level in recent years.
At the same time, the governor revoked the appointment of Maseno‑Holo Municipality board member Lordvick Otieno, signaling changes in local governance structures ahead of the transition.
Shift of Key Services in Kisumu
Under the new arrangement, municipalities will assume control of a wide range of services that directly affect residents’ daily lives.
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Those functions will now be administered at the municipal level, with authority shifting from central departments to local units responsible for operations within their areas.
Urban development oversight, including approval of building plans and enforcement of land-use regulations, will be handled locally, bringing planning decisions closer to project sites.
Licensing of businesses and trade activities will also move to the municipalities, which will now issue permits and ensure compliance within their jurisdictions.
Management of parking systems and traffic flow within towns will be handled by municipal authorities, alongside supervision of public spaces used by traders and transport operators.
Public facilities such as markets and slaughterhouses will be managed at the local level, with municipalities taking over coordination and oversight of their daily operations.
Animal control and related enforcement services within urban centres will also fall under municipal administration as part of the expanded responsibilities.
Kisumu County departments currently overseeing these functions have been directed to begin handing over operations ahead of the implementation date, marking a full transition of responsibilities.
“The county department in charge of the municipalities and urban development is hereby directed to liaise with respective departments and facilitate the transfer and operationalization of this instrument,” the notice read.
Resources and Authority Shift
Staff attached to the affected functions will be reassigned to municipal structures, changing reporting lines and placing personnel under local management.
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Budgets allocated to these services will also align with the functions, along with the equipment and operational resources required to run them.
This means municipalities will not only deliver services but also manage spending and oversee collections within their areas.
Control of revenue streams generated from local services will shift to the municipalities, placing them at the center of financial and administrative activity at the town level.
Enforcement powers tied to these functions will also be exercised locally, giving municipalities authority to regulate compliance within their jurisdictions.
The directive effectively breaks up a system that was previously managed from a single center, creating multiple administrative points across the county.
Each of the five municipalities will operate within its defined boundaries, taking charge of services and resources assigned to it under the new framework.
The transition sets up municipalities as the primary units responsible for urban management in Kisumu once the changes take effect.
The Gazette notice further formalizes the role of municipal administrations in coordinating day-to-day service delivery, requiring them to align operations with existing county policies while exercising direct control over implementation.
It also places responsibility on municipal leadership to ensure continuity of services during the transition period.
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