LAWS OF KENYA LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT CHAPTER 265 Revised Edition 2012 [1998] Published by the National Council for Law Reporting with the Authority of the Attorney-General www.kenyalaw.org [Rev. 2012] CAP. 265 Local Government CHAPTER 265 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS PART I – PRELIMINARY Section 1. Short title. 2. Interpretation. PART II – LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS 3. Deleted. 4. Deleted. 5. Powers of the Minister in regard to local authority areas. 6. Council may submit proposals for alterations. 7. Deleted. 8. Power to name townships. 9. Powers of Minister with respect to counties. 10. Electoral areas. 11. Deleted. PART III – CONSTITUTION OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES Municipal Councils 12. Establishment and incorporation of municipal councils. 13. Qualification of mayor and tenure of office. 14. Election of mayor. 15. Deputy mayor. 16. Filling vacancy in office of mayor and deputy mayor. 17. Functions of deputy mayor. 18. Mayor and deputy mayor to make declaration of acceptance. 19. Allowance to mayor. 20. Deleted. 21. Deleted. 22. Deleted. 23. Deleted. 24. Deleted. 25. Deleted. 26. Number of councillors. 27. Terms of office of councillors. County and Town Councils 28. Establishment and incorporation of county councils and town councils. 29. Election of chairman of county and town councils. 30. Vice-chairman of county and town councils. L24 - 3 [Issue 1] CAP. 265 [Rev. 2012] Local Government Section 31. Terms of office of chairman and vice-chairman of county and town councils. 32. Filling vacancy in office of chairman and vice-chairman. 33. Functions of vice-chairman. 34. Allowance to chairman. 35. Deleted. 36. Deleted. 37. Deleted. 38. Deleted. 39. Number of councillors. 40. Term of office of councillors. Urban Councils 41. Establishment and incorporation of urban councils. 42. Chairman and vice-chairman. 43. Term of office of chairman and vice-chairman. 44. Filling vacancy in office of chairman and vice-chairman. 45. Functions of vice-chairman. 46. Number of councillors. 47. Term of office of councillors. Local Councils 48. Deleted. 49. Deleted. Township Authorities 50. Deleted. 51. Deleted. PART IV – LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS AND MEMBERSHIP Electoral Areas 52. Deleted. 53. Qualifications for registration as a voter and for election as an elected councillor. 53A. Qualifications for nomination, etc., as a councillor other than an elected councillor. 53B. Disqualifications for councillors. 53C. Rules under sections 53, 53A and 53B. 54. Alteration of electoral areas. Voters and Electoral Rolls 55. Preparation of electoral rolls. 55A. Additional disqualifications for candidates. 56. Only those on electoral rolls may vote. Elections and Membership 57. Elections to be in accordance with Act and rules. 58. Election to coincide with parliamentary and presidential election. 59. Councillors may be re-elected, etc. 60. Deleted. [Issue 1] L24 - 4 [Rev. 2012] CAP. 265 Local Government Section 61. Disputes to validity of elections. 62. Declaration by councillors. 62A. Members of the National Assembly not to be councillors. 63. Resignation of councillors and filling of vacancies among nominated and appointed councillors. 63A. Vacation of office as councillor. 64. Absence of councillors from meetings. 65. Tenure of seats of councillors. 66. Appeal against declaration under section 65. 67. Date of casual vacancies. 68. Filling of casual vacancies. 69. Deleted. 70. Term of office of person filling a casual vacancy. 71. Deleted. Rules Respecting Elections 72. Rules for elections. 72A. Electoral code of conduct and application of Cap. 7. PART V – MEETING AND PROCEEDINGS 73. Application and interpretation. 74. Annual and ordinary meetings. 75. Special meetings. 76. Notice of meetings. 77. Chairman to preside and have a casting vote. 78. Record of attendance and quorum. 79. Public officer may attend meetings. 80. Minutes to be kept and signed. 81. Meetings deemed to have been duly held. 82. Minutes open to inspection. 83. Adjournment of meetings. 84. Admission of press and public. 85. Standing Orders. 86. Summoning of public meetings. PART VA – LIMITATIONS AS TO POWERS AND LIABILITIES OF MEMBERS AND OFFICERS OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES 86A. Limitation of powers of members. 87. Exemption of members, etc., from personal liability. 88. Validity of acts of local authorities, members and officers. 89. Disability of members from voting on account of interest in contracts, etc. 90. Restriction on advocacy against, and acting as auditor for, local authorities and committees. PART VI – COMMITTEES, JOINT COMMITTEES AND SUBCOMMITTEES Committees 90A. Interpretation of Part. L24 - 5 [Issue 1] CAP. 265 [Rev. 2012] Local Government Section 91. General power of local authorities to appoint committees. 92. Finance committees. Joint Committees 93. Joint committees. 94. Expenses and accounts of joint committees. Subcommittees 95. Subcommittees. General Provisions Respecting Committees, Joint Committees, and Subcommittees 96. Disability from voting on account of interest in contracts, etc. 97. Chairman to preside and have casting vote. 98. Validity of acts of committee, etc. 99. Exemption of members of committee, etc., from personal liability. 100. Notice of meetings of committees, etc. 101. Minutes of committees, etc. 102. Inspection of minutes and adjournment of meetings. 103. Staff committees and joint staff committees. PART VII – JOINT BOARDS 104. Constitution, etc., of joint board. 105. Change of status of local authorities not to affect joint boards. 106. Meetings and proceedings at joint boards. PART VIIA – LOCAL GOVERNMENT STAFF COMMISSION 106A. Deleted. 106B. Deleted. 106C. Deleted. 106D. Deleted. 106E. Deleted. 106F. Deleted. 106G. Deleted. 106H. Deleted. PART VIII – OFFENCES Municipal Officers 107. Appointment of municipal officers. 108. Appointment of deputies to municipal officers. County and Town Council Officers 109. Appointment of county and town officers. 110. Appointment of deputies to county and town officers. Urban Council Officers 111. Officers for urban council. [Issue 1] L24 - 6 [Rev. 2012] CAP. 265 Local Government Provisions relating to Officers of all Councils Section 112. Appointment of other officers. 113. Appointment of seconded public officers. 114. Interpretation where Public Service Commission delegates. 115. Deleted. 116. Deleted. 117. Deleted. 118. Deleted. 119. Repealed. 120. Repealed. Qualifications and Disqualifications of Officers 121. Members of local authorities not to be appointed as officers. 122. Qualifications of town clerk and clerk. 123. Qualifications of town treasurer and treasurer of county councils or town councils. 124. Qualifications of town engineers and engineers of county councils or town councils. 125. Qualifications of medical officers of health and public health officers. Tenure of Office 126. Deleted. 127. Deleted. 128. Deleted. Status and Duties of Certain Officers 129. Status, powers and duties of town clerk and clerk. 130. Status, powers and duties of chief financial officer. 131. Status, power and duties of medical officer of health. 132. Status, power and duties of town engineer and engineer. 133. Repealed. 134. Repealed. 135. Security to be given by officers. 136. Accountability of officers. 137. Disclosure by officers of interest in contracts. 138. Restriction on engaging in private practice, etc. 139. Transfers of pension and other rights. 140. Transfers in relation to the Local Authorities Provident Fund. 141. Right to attend meetings and require advice to be recorded in certain cases. 141A. Uniforms. 142. Transfer of officers. PART IX – CERTAIN POWERS, DUTIES AND PROVISIONS RELATING TO ALL LOCAL AUTHORITIES 143. Power to enter into contracts. 144. Acquisition of and dealings in land. 145. Miscellaneous powers of local authorities. 146. Grants of money. L24 - 7 [Issue 1] CAP. 265 [Rev. 2012] Local Government Section 147. Miscellaneous powers of control. 148. Imposition of fees and charges. 149. Powers to guarantee tax liability and pay deposits in respect thereof, and to recover payments made respecting tax. 150. Power to pay allowances to councillors. 150A. Miscellaneous expenditure. PART X – CERTAIN POWERS, DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS RELATING TO MUNICIPALITIES, COUNTIES AND TOWNSHIPS 151. Powers with respect to pension, provident and benevolen funds. 152. Schools and bursaries. 153. Powers authorising omnibus and vehicle services. 154. Miscellaneous powers of municipal, county and township authorities. 155. Powers of county, municipal and town councils. 156. Deleted. 157. Payments of money in connexion with employment of magistrates, etc. 158. Freemen. 159. Shops in rural areas. PART XI – CERTAIN POWERS, DUTIES AND PROVISIONS RELATING TO MUNICIPALITIES, TOWNSHIPS AND COUNTY DIVISIONS 160. Miscellaneous functions of local authorities other than county councils and local councils. 161. Miscellaneous functions and powers of control. 162. Miscellaneous powers of control. 163. Powers to control trades and occupations. 163A. Business permits. 164. Applications for licences. 165. Powers to refuse to grant or renew licences and to cancel licences. 166. Planning. 167. Burials. Sewerage and Drainage 168. Deleted. 169. Deleted. 170. Deleted. 171. Deleted. 172. Deleted. 173. Deleted. 174. Deleted. 175. Deleted. 176. Deleted. Housing 177. Housing and advances for housing. Water Supply 178. Water supply. [Issue 1] L24 - 8 [Rev. 2012] CAP. 265 Local Government Section 179. Diversion and canalisation of streams, etc. 180. Additional powers relating to water. Electricity Supply 181. Works of the supply of electricity,