The County Secretary is a senior administrative officer in the county government, responsible for coordinating executive functions. The position is established under Section 44 of the County Governments Act.
🔹 Qualifications for County Secretary
A County Secretary must:
✔ Be a Kenyan citizen.
✔ Hold a degree from a recognized university.
✔ Have at least 10 years of relevant professional experience.
✔ Have at least 5 years’ leadership experience in senior management (public or private sector).
✔ Meet the integrity and leadership requirements under Chapter Six of the Constitution.
📌 Term Limit:
- Serves for a 5-year term, renewable once.
🔹 Functions of the County Secretary
The County Secretary performs the following key roles:
✅ Head of the County Public Service
- Manages and coordinates county government staff and operations.
- Ensures efficiency and discipline in the county public service (per Article 235 of the Constitution).
✅ Secretary to the County Executive Committee (CEC)
- Arranges the business of the CEC.
- Records and keeps minutes of CEC meetings.
- Conveys CEC decisions to the relevant departments or authorities.
✅ Policy and Administrative Coordination
- Ensures county policies and decisions are implemented effectively.
- Facilitates communication between executive departments.
- Supports the Governor’s office in managing intergovernmental relations.
✅ Delegated Functions
- Can receive written delegations from the County Public Service Board.
- Assists in managing county finances and intergovernmental fiscal coordination.
✅ Performs other functions as directed
- Executes any additional duties assigned by the County Executive Committee.
🔹 Removal of the County Secretary
The Governor can remove the County Secretary based on:
❌ Inability to perform duties due to physical/mental incapacity.
❌ Incompetence.
❌ Gross misconduct.
❌ Bankruptcy.
❌ Violation of the Constitution.
▶ Before removal, the County Secretary must be informed in writing of the reasons.
📌 Key Takeaways
✔ The County Secretary is the administrative head of the county public service.
✔ Acts as the Secretary to the County Executive Committee (CEC), ensuring policy coordination.
✔ Reports directly to the Governor and plays a central role in governance.
✔ Can serve for a maximum of 10 years (if reappointed after the first 5-year term).
✔ Subject to removal for incompetence, misconduct, or constitutional violations.
🔴 Conclusion:
The County Secretary plays a crucial role in county governance, ensuring smooth administration, policy coordination, and executive implementation. 🚀
