BC-Department of Sociology

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Evolution of Local Authorities in Kenya
(the Institute of Policy Analysis and Research, 2010) Muia, D. M.; Ngugi, J.; Gikuhi, R.
Local government system is more or less a universal phenomenon of public administration throughout the world. The term local government is usually used to bring out the graphic contrast between the local level system of government and the central or national level government. The central government could be a unitary government or a federated government. Equally in many cases, the terms local government (LG) and local authorities (LAs) are used interchangeably. While increasingly local governments exercise powers more or less at the same level as national government as calls for enhanced autonomy become the norm, the normal practice has hitherto been one of local authorities exercising delegated mandate, often through a constitutional arrangements and/or a legislated process. Nevertheless the question of local government autonomy continues to be a subject of concern as the questions of democratic and participatory governance assume a prime place in governance discourse. As systems for devolved administration, local governments are increasingly being seen as viable vehicles through which people can participate in their own governance since these units are closer to them as compared to central governments.