How did Kenya’s 2010 constitution change local government?

Kenya’s 2010 constitution fundamentally transformed the country's local government by replacing the previous system of eight provinces with a decentralized structure based on 47 counties.1

This shift introduced several key changes:

• County Governance: Each county is headed by a directly elected governor and features an assembly composed of elected members, as well as nominated members to represent special interest groups and ensure gender balance.1
• Decentralization: The move was designed to distribute power away from the central government, serving as a core component of the constitutional reforms that also reduced presidential power and reestablished a bicameral parliament.2
• Implementation: The transition to this county-based system began following the 2013 elections. A dedicated government body, the Transition Authority, was established to facilitate the transfer of authority to the new county governments.1

While Raila Odinga served as prime minister in a coalition government established prior to these reforms, the 2010 constitution remains the defining framework for Kenya's current decentralized administrative structure.13