Residents of Kanunga and Ngegu sub-locations are set to benefit from improved coordination of government services following the operationalisation of Kanunga Division, which seeks to end years of divided administration between Kiambaa and Kiambu sub-counties.

The development was announced during a public baraza held in Kanunga on Monday, where Senior Deputy County Commissioner for Kiambu County, Titus Macharia, officially handed over the two sub-locations from Kiambaa to Kiambu Sub-County.

The administrative mismatch dates back at least 14 years, with a 2012 court petition challenging the transfer of Kanunga and Ngegu from Kiambaa to Kiambu during the delimitation of constituencies.

Although Kanunga Division was gazetted as part of Kiambu Sub-County on June 27, 2017, it was not operationalised until this year, following authorisation by the Internal Security and National Administration PS Dr. Raymond Omollo in January.

Macharia said the new arrangement would address challenges caused by government officers serving the same communities, while reporting to different administrative offices.

“There has been such a dilemma because, for example, the National Government Administrative Officers team posted here reported to Kiambaa, while the security committee reported to Kiambu. It is not right to have two bosses,” he explained.

Macharia said the arrangement had also complicated the administration of government programmes, including the Uwezo Fund, Youth Fund and Inua Jamii, which were handled from Kiambu while local administrators responsible for follow-ups reported to Kiambaa.

He said the principal secretary had authorised the operationalisation of the division after sustained enquiries, including representations made by Kiambu Town MP Machua Waithaka.

Kanunga Division now has an Assistant County Commissioner, Teddy Wanjau, creating vacancies for the two sub-locations and locations (Kanunga and Ngegu), available by this new development.

“I will now seek approval from the principal secretary to begin recruitment to fill the additional vacancies created by the new administrative arrangement,” the DCC announced.

The Kiambu Town MP said he had raised the matter with the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and pursued it through the National Assembly’s security committee.

Waithaka said the change would also make it easier to coordinate constituency-based development programmes that had previously faced uncertainty over which constituency should serve the area.

However, Waithaka clarified that the administrative change did not automatically create a new electoral ward.

“Kanunga can only become a ward when the IEBC approves this boundary review, but for now it remains domiciled in Ndumberi Ward,” the lawmaker affirmed.

George Kimani, a village elder from Njunu, welcomed the handover, saying residents had voted in Kiambu but continued to seek some administrative services, including assistance with title deed matters, through Kiambaa.

“This is such a big win for us. Thank you so much to our able MP, our DCC and everyone who has ensured Kanunga division becomes operational,” Kimani exuded.

The public baraza also brought together officers from security, lands, social development, gender, youth affairs, civil registration and other government departments to explain their services and how residents could access them through Kiambu Sub-County.

By Rose Muthoni and Grace Naishoo