Political and Administrative Structure

Administrative structure

The Village

A village is the lowest political, administrative unit. A village consists of approximately 50 or more households. Each village is governed by a Village chairperson and nine other executive committee members. 

The Parish
The parish is the next administrative level up from the village. A parish is made up of a number of villages. Each parish has a parish made up of all the chairpersons from the villages in the parish. Each parish elects, from among themselves, an executive committee. Currently, Parishes are largely involved in settling land disputes and community mobilization for various activities. The parish is run by a parish chief who provides technical leadership. 

The Sub-County
A sub-county is made up of a number of parishes. The sub-county is run by the Senior Assistant Secretary (SAS) initially known as sub-county chief on the technical side and by an elected Sub County chairperson, supported by an executive committee. The sub-county has a council, with a speaker and deputy speaker. The council consists of elected councilors representing the parishes, other government officials in the sub-county. In the Municipality, a sub-county is called a division.

The County
A county is made up of several sub-counties. Sheema District has two rural counties: Sheema North and South, and one municipality. Each county is represented in the national parliament by an elected member (MP). 

The District
Sheema district is made up of Two counties and one municipality. A district is led by an elected District Chairperson and his executive. There is also an elected District council, with representatives from the sub-counties and technical staff in the district.

The Policy Making Organ
Sheema District Council the supreme organ, headed by the LCV Chairperson, is supported by an Executive committee and policy/sectoral Committees. They deliberate policy matters and make recommendations to the full Council.

The Sectoral Committees include:

  • Finance, Administration, Investment, Information and General Purpose
  • Community Development (Gender, Labour, Youth, Children, Elderly and Disabled)
  • Education, Sports, Health, Sanitation and Security.
  • Production (Agriculture, Veterinary, Fisheries, Forestry, Environment, Marketing and Industry
  • Works, Water, Land, Urban and Regional Planning.

Statutory Bodies There are also statutory bodies, which are mandated by law to carry out specific roles and responsibilities to ensure effective and efficient service delivery. These include:

  • District Contracts Committee
  • District Public Accounts Committee
  • District Service Commission
  • District Land Board

A Contracts Committee comprising of appointed Technical Officers replaced the District Tender Board according to the Local Governments Amendment Act 2006.

Office of the Resident District Commissioner
It represents the President in the District and ensures that both national and local priorities are given due consideration and are implemented in an accountable manner.

Lower Local Governments
The Municipality, Municipal Council, Sub counties, Parishes/Wards and villages/Cells have councils and executive committees, which coordinate the various functions.