Which services are the county's job and which are the national government's
Constitution of Kenya 2010 · sources read 2 Oct 2026
The Constitution splits the work: counties run county health facilities and ambulances, county roads, street lighting, parking, markets, trade and liquor licences, pre-primary education and village polytechnics, water and sanitation, refuse and fire fighting. The national government runs police, courts, immigration, primary, secondary and university education, national referral hospitals, national trunk roads and labour standards, and anything the law does not give to counties.
- Where
- Your county government offices for county services; the responsible national ministry or agency for national services
Steps
- For county roads, street lights, parking, markets and trade licences, go to your county government offices.
- For a county hospital, health centre, dispensary, ambulance or refuse collection, contact your county's health or environment department.
- For police, courts, immigration, schools from primary up and universities, deal with the national ministry or agency in charge.
- If a public office treats you unfairly or does not respond, you can complain to the Commission on Administrative Justice (Ombudsman).
Watch out
- Anything the Constitution or a national law does not give to counties belongs to the national government.
- A function can be moved between the two levels by agreement, but responsibility stays with the level the Constitution gave it to.
- Some functions are shared: if the Constitution gives a function to both levels, both can act on it.
Who this covers
- Everyone in Kenya who uses public services. The split is set out in the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution.
Official sources (2)
- Constitution of Kenya, 2010 new.kenyalaw.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Complaints Management Information System (public portal) cmis.ombudsman.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026