# Article 180 of the Constitution of Kenya

- Jurisdiction: Kenya (KE)
- Article: 180
- Chapter (as indexed): Chapter EIGHTEEN: —TRANSITIONAL AND CONSEQUENTIAL
- Source document: The Kenya Constitution
- Canonical (HTML): https://www.portablelaw.com/provision/2d7c38b0-f4a7-45bb-b6da-addc4819d840
- This document: https://www.portablelaw.com/provision/2d7c38b0-f4a7-45bb-b6da-addc4819d840/md
- Constitution: https://www.portablelaw.com/countries/03fe64e6-7dc2-4959-950b-e59f32a20028

## Verbatim text

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(d) is convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment for at
least twelve months; or
(e) is removed from office under this Constitution.
(2)  If  a vacancy  occurs  in  the  office  of  county  governor,  the
deputy county governor shall assume office as county governor for the
remainder of the term of the county governor.
(3) If a person assumes office as county governor under clause
(2), the person shall be deemed for the purposes of Article 180 (7)—
(a) to have served a full term as county governor if, at the date on
which the person assumed office, more than two and a half
years remain before the date of the next regularly scheduled
election under Article 180 (1); or
(b) not to have served a term of office as county governor, in any
other case.
(4) If a vacancy occurs in the office of county governor and that of
deputy county governor, or if the deputy county governor is unable to
act, the speaker of the county assembly shall act as county governor.
(5) If a vacancy occurs in the circumstances contemplated by
clause (4), an election to the office of county governor shall be held
within  sixty  days  after  the  speaker  assumes  the  office  of  county
governor.
(6) A person who assumes the office of county governor under
this  Article  shall,  unless  otherwise  removed  from  office  under  this
Constitution,  hold  office  until  the  newly  elected  county  governor
assumes office following the next election held under Article 180 (1).
Functions of county executive committees
183. (1) A county executive committee shall—
(a) implement county legislation;
(b) implement, within the county, national legislation to the extent
that the legislation so requires; 110
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
(c)  manage  and  coordinate  the  functions  of  the  county
administration and its departments; and
(d)  perform  any  other  functions  conferred  on  it  by  this
Constitution or national legislation.
(2)  A  county  executive  committee  may  prepare  proposed
legislation for consideration by the county assembly.
(3)  The  county  executive  committee  shall  provide  the  county
assembly with full and regular reports on matters relating to the county.
Urban areas and cities.
184. (1) National legislation shall provide for the governance
and management of urban areas and cities and shall, in particular—
(a) establish criteria for classifying areas as urban areas and
cities,
(b) establish the principles of governance and management of
urban areas and cities; and
(c) provide for participation by residents in the governance of
urban areas and cities.
(2) National legislation contemplated in clause (1) may include
mechanisms  for identifying different categories of urban areas and
cities, and for their  governance.
Legislative authority of county assemblies.
185. (1) The legislative authority of a county is vested in, and
exercised by, its county assembly.
(2) A county assembly may make any laws that are necessary
for, or incidental to, the effective performance of the functions and
exercise of the powers of the county government under the Fourth
Schedule.
(3)  A  county  assembly,  while  respecting  the  principle  of  the
separation  of  powers,  may  exercise  oversight  over  the  county
executive committee and any other county executive organs.
(4)  A  county  assembly  may  receive  and  approve  plans  and
policies for—
(a) the management and exploitation of the county’s resources;
and111
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(b) the development and management of its infrastructure and
institutions.
PART 3—FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF COUNTY GOVERNMENTS
Respective functions and powers of national and county
governments.
186. (1) Except as otherwise provided by this Constitution, the
functions  and  powers  of  the  national  government  and  the  county
governments, respectively, are as  set out in the Fourth Schedule.
(2) A function or power that is conferred on more than one level
of government is a function or power within the concurrent jurisdiction
of each of those levels of government.
(3)  A  function  or  power  not  assigned  by  this  Constitution  or
national legislation to a county is a function or power of the national
government.
(4)  For  greater  certainty,  Parliament  may  legislate  for  the
Republic on any matter.
Transfer of functions and powers between levels of government.
187. (1) A function or power of government at one level may be
transferred to a government at the other level by agreement between
the governments if—
(a) the function or power would be more effectively performed or
exercised by the receiving government; and
(b) the transfer of the function or power is not prohibited by the
legislation under which it is to be performed or exercised.
(2) If a function or power is transferred from a government at one
level to a government at the other level—
(a)  arrangements  shall  be  put  in  place  to  ensure  that  the
resources necessary for the performance of the function or
exercise of the power are transferred; and
(b) constitutional responsibility for the performance of the function
or exercise of the power shall remain with the government to
which it is assigned by the Fourth Schedule.112
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PART 4—THE BOUNDARIES OF COUNTIES
Boundaries of counties.
188. (1) The boundaries of a county may be altered only by a
resolution—
(a) recommended by an independent commission set up for that
purpose by Parliament; and
(b) passed by—
(i)the  National  Assembly,  with  the  support  of  at  least
two-thirds of all of the members of the Assembly; and
(ii) the Senate, with the support of at least two-thirds of all of
the county delegations.
(2)  The  boundaries  of  a  county  may  be  altered  to  take  into
account—
(a) population density and demographic trends;
(b) physical and human infrastructure;
(c) historical and cultural ties;
(d) the cost of administration;
(e) the views of the communities affected;
(f) the objects of devolution of government; and
(g) geographical features.
PART 5—RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS
Cooperation between national and county governments.
189. (1) Government at either level shall—
(a) perform its functions, and exercise its powers, in a manner
that  respects  the  functional  and  institutional  integrity  of
government at the other level, and respects the constitutional
status and institutions of government at the other level and, in
the case of county government, within the county level;
(b) assist, support and consult and, as appropriate, implement
the legislation of the other level of government; and
(c) liaise with government at the other level for the purpose of  113
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exchanging  information,  coordinating  policies  and
administration and enhancing capacity.
(2) Government at each level, and different governments at the
county  level, shall co-operate  in  the  performance of functions and
exercise of powers and, for that purpose, may set up joint committees
and joint authorities.
(3) In any dispute between governments, the governments shall
make every reasonable effort to settle the dispute, including by means
of procedures provided under national legislation.
(4)  National  legislation  shall  provide  procedures  for  settling
inter-governmental  disputes  by  alternative  dispute  resolution
mechanisms, including negotiation, mediation and arbitration.
Support for county governments.
190. (1)  Parliament  shall  by  legislation  ensure  that  county
governments have adequate support to enable them to perform their
functions.
(2)  County  governments  shall  operate  financial  management
systems  that  comply  with  any requirements prescribed by national
legislation.
(3) Parliament shall, by legislation, provide for intervention by the
national government if a county government—
(a) is unable to perform its functions; or
(b)  does  not  operate  a  financial  management  system  that
complies  with  the  requirements  prescribed  by  national
legislation.
(4) Legislation under clause (3) may, in particular, authorise the
national government—
(a)  to  take  appropriate  steps  to  ensure  that  the  county
government’s functions are performed and that it operates a
financial  management  system  that  complies  with  the
prescribed requirements; and
(b)  if  necessary,  to  assume  responsibility  for  the  relevant
functions.
(5) The legislation under clause (3) shall—114
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(a) require notice to be given to a county government of any
measures that the national government intends to take;
(b) permit the national government to take only measures that are
necessary;
(c) require the national government, when it intervenes, to take
measures that will assist the county government to resume
full responsibility for its functions; and
(d) provide for a process by which the Senate may bring the
intervention by the national government to an end.
Conflict of laws.
191. (1) This Article applies to conflicts between national and
county legislation in respect of matters falling within the concurrent
jurisdiction of both levels of government.
(2) National legislation prevails over county legislation if—
(a) the national legislation applies uniformly throughout Kenya and
any of the conditions  specified in clause (3) is satisfied; or
(b) the national legislation is aimed at preventing unreasonable
action by a county that—
(i)is  prejudicial  to  the  economic,  health  or  security
interests of Kenya or another county; or
(ii) impedes the implementation of national economic policy.
(3) The following are the conditions referred to in clause (2) ( a)—
(a) the national legislation provides for  a matter that cannot be
regulated effectively by legislation enacted by the individual
counties;
(b) the national legislation provides for a matter that, to be dealt
with effectively, requires uniformity across the nation, and the
national legislation provides that uniformity by establishing—
(i)norms and standards; or
(ii) national policies; or
(c) the national legislation is necessary for—
(i)the maintenance of national security;
(ii)the maintenance of economic unity;115
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
(iii) the protection of the common market in respect of the
mobility of goods, services, capital and labour;
(iv)  the  promotion  of  economic  activities  across  county
boundaries;
(v)the promotion of equal opportunity or equal access to
government services; or
(vi) the protection of the environment.
(4) County legislation prevails over national legislation if neither
of the circumstances contemplated in clause (2) apply.
(5)  In  considering  an  apparent  conflict  between  legislation  of
different  levels  of  government,  a  court  shall  prefer  a  reasonable
interpretation of the legislation that avoids a conflict to an alternative
interpretation that results in conflict.
(6) A decision by a court that a provision of legislation of one
level of government prevails over a provision of legislation of another
level of government does not invalidate the other provision, but the
other provision is inoperative to the extent of the inconsistency.
PART 6—SUSPENSION OF COUNTY GOVERNMENTS
Suspension of a county government.
192. (1) The President may suspend a county government—
(a) in an emergency arising out of internal conflict or war; or
(b) in any other exceptional circumstances.
(2) A county government shall not be suspended under clause (1)
(b)  unless  an  independent  commission  of  inquiry  has  investigated
allegations against the county government, the President is satisfied
that the allegations are justified and the Senate has authorised the
suspension.
(3) During a suspension under this Article, arrangements shall be
made for the performance of the functions of a county government in
accordance with an Act of Parliament.
(4) The Senate may at any time terminate the suspension.
(5) A suspension under this Article shall not extend beyond a
period of ninety days.116
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
(6) On the expiry of the period provided for under clause (5),
elections for the relevant county government shall be held.
PART 7—GENERAL
Qualifications for election as member of county assembly.
193. (1) Unless disqualified under clause (2), a person is eligible
for election as a member of a county assembly if the person—
(a) is registered as a voter;
(b)  satisfies  any  educational,  moral  and  ethical  requirements
prescribed by this Constitution or an Act of Parliament; and
(c) is either—
(i)nominated by a political party; or
(ii)  an  independent  candidate  supported  by  at  least  five
hundred registered voters in the ward concerned.
(2) A person is disqualified from being elected a member of a
county assembly if the person—
(a) is a State officer or other public officer, other than a member
of the county assembly;
(b) has, at any time within the five years immediately before the
date of election, held office as a member of the Independent
Electoral and Boundaries Commission;
(c) has not been a citizen of Kenya for at least the ten years
immediately preceding the date of election;
(d) is of unsound mind;
(e) is an undischarged bankrupt;
(f) is serving a sentence of imprisonment of at least six months;
or
(g) has been found, in accordance with any law, to have misused
or  abused  a  State  office  or  public  office  or  to  have
contravened Chapter Six.
(3)  A  person  is  not  disqualified  under  clause  (2)  unless  all
possibility of appeal or review of the relevant sentence or decision has
been exhausted.117
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
Vacation of office of member of county assembly.
194. (1) The office of a member of a county assembly becomes
vacant—
(a) if the member dies;
(b) if the member is absent from eight sittings of the assembly
without permission, in writing, of the speaker of the assembly,
and  is  unable  to  offer  satisfactory  explanation  for  the
absence;
(c) if the member is removed from office under this Constitution
or legislation enacted under Article 80;
(d) if the member resigns in writing addressed to the speaker of
the assembly;
(e) if, having been elected to the assembly—
(i)as a member of a political party, the member resigns
from the party, or is deemed to have resigned from the
party as determined in accordance with the legislation
contemplated in clause (2); or
(ii) as an independent candidate, the member joins a political
party;
(f)at the end of the term of the assembly; or
(g) if the member becomes disqualified for election on grounds
specified in Article 193 (2).
(2)  Parliament  shall  enact  legislation  providing  for  the
circumstances under which a member of  a political party  shall be
deemed, for the purposes of clause (1) ( e), to have resigned from the
party.
County assembly power to summon witnesses.
195. (1) A county assembly or any of its committees has power to
summon any person to appear before it for the purpose of giving
evidence or providing information.
(2) For the purposes of clause (1), an assembly has the same
powers as the High Court to—
(a) enforce the attendance of witnesses and examining them on
oath, affirmation or otherwise;
(b) compel the production of documents; and118
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(c) issue a commission or request to examine witnesses abroad.
Public participation and county assembly powers, privileges and
immunities.
196. (1) A county assembly shall—
(a) conduct its business in an open manner, and hold its sittings
and those of its committees, in public; and
(b) facilitate public participation and involvement in the legislative
and other business of the assembly and its committees.
(2) A county assembly may not exclude the public, or any media,
from any sitting unless in exceptional circumstances the speaker has
determined that there are justifiable reasons for doing so.
(3) Parliament shall enact legislation providing for the powers,
privileges and immunities of county assemblies, their committees and
members.
County assembly gender balance and diversity.
197. (1) Not more than two-thirds of the members of any county
assembly or county executive committee shall be of the same gender.
(2) Parliament shall enact legislation to—
(a) ensure that the community and cultural diversity of a county is
reflected  in  its  county  assembly  and  county  executive
committee; and
(b) prescribe mechanisms to protect minorities within counties.
County government during transition.
198. While  an  election  is  being  held  to  constitute  a  county
assembly under this Chapter, the executive committee of the county,
as  last  constituted  remains  competent  to  perform  administrative
functions  until  a  new  executive  committee  is  constituted  after  the
election.
Publication of county legislation.
199. (1) County legislation does not take effect unless published
in the Gazette.
(2)  National  and  county  legislation  may  prescribe  additional
requirements in respect of the publication of county legislation.119
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
Legislation on Chapter.
200. (1) Parliament shall enact legislation providing for all matters
necessary or convenient to give effect to this Chapter.
(2) In particular, provision may be made with respect to—
(a) the  governance  of the  capital city,  other cities and  urban
areas;
(b)  the  transfer  of  functions  and  powers  by  one  level  of
government to another, including the transfer of legislative
powers from the national government to county governments;
(c) the manner of election or appointment of persons to, and their
removal from, offices in county governments, including the
qualifications of voters and candidates;
(d)  the  procedure  of  assemblies  and  executive  committees
including the chairing and frequency of meetings, quorums
and voting; and
(e) the suspension of assemblies and executive committees.
CHAPTER TWELVE—PUBLIC FINANCE
PART I—PRINCIPLES AND FRAMEWORK OF PUBLIC FINANCE
Principles of public finance.
201. The following principles shall guide all aspects of public
finance in the Republic—
(a) there shall be openness and accountability, including public
participation  in financial matters;
(b) the public finance system shall promote an equitable society,
and in particular—
(i)the burden of taxation shall be shared fairly;
(ii)revenue  raised  nationally  shall  be  shared  equitably
among national and county governments; and
(iii) expenditure shall promote the equitable development of
the country, including by making special provision for
marginalised groups and areas;
(c) the burdens and benefits of the use of resources and public
borrowing  shall  be  shared  equitably  between  present  and
future generations; 120
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(d) public money shall be used in a prudent and responsible way;
and
(e)  financial  management  shall  be  responsible,  and  fiscal
reporting shall be clear.
Equitable sharing of national revenue.
202. (1)  Revenue  raised  nationally  shall  be  shared  equitably
among the national and county governments.
(2) County governments may be given additional allocations from
the national government’s share of the revenue, either conditionally or
unconditionally.
Equitable share and other financial laws.
203. (1)  The  following  criteria  shall  be  taken  into  account  in
determining the equitable shares provided for under Article 202 and in
all national legislation concerning county government enacted in terms
of this Chapter—
(a) the national interest;
(b) any provision that must be made in respect of the public debt
and other national obligations;
(c)  the  needs  of  the  national  government,  determined  by
objective criteria;
(d)  the  need  to  ensure  that  county  governments  are  able  to
perform the functions allocated to them;
(e) the fiscal capacity and efficiency of county governments;
(f)developmental and other needs of counties;
(g) economic disparities within and among counties and the need
to remedy them;
(h) the need for affirmative action in respect of disadvantaged
areas and groups;
(i)the need for economic optimisation of each county and to
provide incentives for each county to optimise its capacity to
raise revenue;
(j)the  desirability  of  stable  and  predictable  allocations  of
revenue; and121
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(k) the need for flexibility in responding to emergencies and other
temporary needs, based on similar objective criteria.
(2) For every financial year, the equitable share of the revenue
raised nationally that is allocated to county governments shall be not
less  than  fifteen  per  cent  of  all  revenue  collected  by  the  national
government.
(3) The amount referred to in clause (2) shall be calculated on the
basis of the most recent audited accounts of revenue received, as
approved by the National Assembly.
Equalisation Fund.
204. (1) There is established an Equalisation Fund into which
shall be paid one half per cent of all the revenue collected by the
national government each year calculated on the basis of the most
recent  audited  accounts  of  revenue  received,  as  approved  by  the
National Assembly.
(2) The national government shall use the Equalisation Fund only
to provide basic services including water, roads, health facilities and
electricity to marginalised areas to the extent necessary to bring the
quality of those services in those areas to the level generally enjoyed
by the rest of the nation, so far as possible.
(3) The national government may use the Equalisation Fund—
(a) only to the extent that the expenditure of those funds has
been  approved  in  an  Appropriation  Bill  enacted  by
Parliament; and
(b)  either  directly,  or  indirectly  through  conditional  grants  to
counties in which marginalised communities exist.
(4) The Commission on Revenue Allocation shall be consulted
and its recommendations considered before Parliament passes any
Bill appropriating money out of the Equalisation Fund.
(5) Any unexpended money in the Equalisation Fund at the end
of  a  particular  financial  year  shall  remain  in  that  Fund  for  use  in
accordance with clauses (2) and (3) during any subsequent financial
year.
(6)  This  Article  lapses  twenty  years  after  the  effective  date,
subject to clause (7).
(7)  Parliament  may  enact  legislation  suspending  the  effect  of
clause (6) for a further fixed period of years, subject to clause (8).122
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(8) Legislation under clause (7) shall be supported by more than
half of all the members of the National Assembly, and more than half
of all the county delegations in the Senate.
(9) Money shall not be withdrawn from the Equalisation Fund
unless the Controller of Budget has approved the withdrawal.
Consultation on financial legislation affecting counties.
205. (1) When a Bill that includes provisions dealing with the
sharing  of  revenue,  or  any  financial  matter  concerning  county
governments  is  published,  the  Commission  on  Revenue  Allocation
shall consider those provisions and may make recommendations to
the National Assembly and the Senate.
(2)  Any  recommendations  made  by  the  Commission  shall  be
tabled  in  Parliament,  and  each  House  shall  consider  the
recommendations before voting on the Bill.
PART 2—OTHER PUBLIC FUNDS
Consolidated Fund and other public funds.
206. (1) There is established the Consolidated Fund into which
shall be paid all money raised or received by or on behalf of the
national government, except money that—
(a) is reasonably excluded from the Fund by an Act of Parliament
and payable into another public fund established for a specific
purpose; or
(b) may, under an Act of Parliament, be retained by the State
organ  that  received  it  for  the  purpose  of  defraying  the
expenses of the State organ.
(2) Money may be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund only—
(a) in accordance with an appropriation by an Act of Parliament;
(b) in accordance with Article 222 or 223; or
(c)  as  a  charge  against  the  Fund  as  authorised  by  this
Constitution or an Act of Parliament.
(3) Money shall not be withdrawn from any national public fund
other than the Consolidated Fund, unless the withdrawal of the money
has been authorised by an Act of Parliament.
(4)  Money  shall  not  be  withdrawn  from  the  Consolidated  Fund
unless the Controller of Budget has approved the withdrawal.123
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Revenue Funds for county governments.
207. (1) There shall be established a Revenue Fund for each
county  government,  into  which  shall  be  paid  all  money  raised  or
received by or on behalf of the county government, except money
reasonably excluded by an Act of Parliament.
(2) Money may be withdrawn from the Revenue Fund of a county
government only—
(a) as a charge against the Revenue Fund that is provided for by
an Act of Parliament or by legislation of the county; or
(b) as authorised by an appropriation by legislation of the county.
(3) Money shall not be withdrawn from a Revenue Fund unless
the Controller of Budget has approved the withdrawal.
(4) An Act of Parliament may—
(a) make further provision for the withdrawal of funds from a
county Revenue Fund; and
(b) provide for the establishment of other funds by counties and
the management of those funds.
Contingencies Fund.
208. (1)  There  is  established  a  Contingencies  Fund,  the
operation of which shall be in accordance with an Act of Parliament.
(2) An Act of Parliament shall provide for advances from the
Contingencies Fund if the Cabinet Secretary responsible for finance is
satisfied that there is an urgent and unforeseen need for expenditure
for which there is no other authority.
PART 3—REVENUE-RAISING POWERS AND THE PUBLIC DEBT
Power to impose taxes and charges.
209. (1) Only the national government may impose—
(a) income tax;
(b) value-added tax;
(c) customs duties and other duties on import and export goods;
and
(d) excise tax.124
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(2) An Act of Parliament may authorise the national government
to impose any other tax or duty, except a tax specified in clause (3) ( a)
or (b).
(3) A county may impose—
(a) property rates;
(b) entertainment taxes; and
(c) any other tax that it is authorised to impose by an Act of
Parliament.
(4) The national and county governments may impose charges
for the services they provide.
(5) The taxation and other revenue-raising powers of a county
shall not be exercised in a way that prejudices national economic
policies, economic activities across county boundaries or the national
mobility of goods, services, capital or labour.
Imposition of tax.
210. (1) No  tax  or licensing fee may  be imposed, waived or
varied except as provided by legislation.
(2) If legislation permits the waiver of any tax or licensing fee—
(a) a public record of each waiver shall be maintained together
with the reason for the waiver; and
(b) each waiver,  and  the reason for it, shall be reported to the
Auditor-General.
(3) No law may exclude or authorise the exclusion of a State
officer from payment of tax by reason of—
(a) the office held by that State officer; or
(b) the nature of the work of the State officer.
Borrowing by national government.
211. (1) Parliament may, by legislation—
(a) prescribe the terms on which the national government may
borrow; and
(b) impose reporting requirements.125
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(2)  Within  seven  days  after  either  House  of  Parliament  so
requests by resolution, the Cabinet Secretary responsible for finance
shall present to the relevant committee, information concerning any
particular loan  or guarantee, including all information necessary  to
show—
(a) the extent of the total indebtedness by way of principal and
accumulated interest;
(b) the use made or to be made of the proceeds of the loan;
(c) the provision made for servicing or repayment of the loan; and
(d) the progress made in the repayment of the loan.
Borrowing by counties.
212. A county government may borrow only—
(a) if the national government guarantees the loan; and
(b) with the approval of the county government’s assembly.
Loan guarantees by national government.
213. (1)  An  Act  of  Parliament  shall  prescribe  terms  and
conditions under which the national government may guarantee loans.
(2) Within two months after the end of each financial year, the
national government shall publish a report on the guarantees that it
gave during that year.
Public debt.
214. (1) The public debt is a charge on the Consolidated Fund,
but an Act of Parliament may provide for charging all or part of the
public debt to other public funds.
(2) For the purposes of this Article, “the public debt” means all
financial  obligations  attendant  to  loans  raised  or  guaranteed  and
securities issued or guaranteed by the national government.
PART 4—REVENUE ALLOCATION
Commission on Revenue Allocation.
215. (1)  There  is  established  the  Commission  on  Revenue
Allocation.
(2)  The  Commission  shall  consist  of  the  following  persons
appointed by the President—126
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(a) a chairperson, who shall be nominated by the President and
approved by the National Assembly;
(b) two persons nominated by the political parties represented in
the  National  Assembly  according  to  their  proportion  of
members in the Assembly;
(c) five persons nominated by the political parties represented in
the Senate according to their proportion of members in the
Senate; and
(d) the Principal Secretary in the Ministry responsible for finance.
(3)  The  persons  nominated  under  clause  (2)  shall  not  be
members of Parliament.
(4) To be qualified to be a member of the Commission under
clause (2) (a), (b) or (c), a person shall have extensive professional
experience in financial and economic matters.
Functions of the Commission on Revenue Allocation.
216. (1) The principal function of the Commission on Revenue
Allocation is to make recommendations concerning the basis for the
equitable sharing of revenue raised by the national government—
(a) between the national and county governments; and
(b) among the county governments.
(2) The Commission shall also make recommendations on other
matters concerning the financing of, and financial management by,
county  governments,  as  required  by  this  Constitution  and  national
legislation.
(3) In formulating recommendations, the Commission shall seek
—
(a) to promote and give effect to the criteria set out in Article 203
(1);
(b) when appropriate, to define and enhance the revenue sources
of the national and county governments; and
(c) to encourage fiscal responsibility.
(4) The Commission shall determine, publish and regularly review
a  policy  in  which  it  sets  out  the  criteria  by  which  to  identify  the
marginalised areas for purposes of Article 204 (2).127
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
(5) The Commission  shall submit  its recommendations  to the
Senate,  the  National  Assembly,  the  national  executive,  county
assemblies and county executives.
Division of revenue.
217. (1) Once every five years, the Senate shall, by resolution,
determine the basis for allocating among the counties the share of
national  revenue  that  is  annually  allocated  to  the  county  level  of
government.
(2) In determining the basis of revenue sharing under clause (1),
the Senate shall—
(a) take the criteria in Article 203 (1) into account;
(b) request and consider recommendations from the Commission
on Revenue Allocation;
(c)  consult  the  county  governors,  the  Cabinet  Secretary
responsible  for  finance  and  any  organisation  of  county
governments; and
(d)  invite  the  public,  including  professional  bodies,  to  make
submissions to it on the matter.
(3) Within ten days after the Senate adopts a resolution under
clause (1), the Speaker of the Senate shall refer the resolution to the
Speaker of the National Assembly.
(4)  Within  sixty  days  after  the  Senate’s  resolution  is  referred
under clause (3), the National Assembly may consider the resolution,
and vote to approve it, with or without amendments, or to reject it.
(5) If the National Assembly—
(a)  does  not  vote  on  the  resolution  within  sixty  days,  the
resolution  shall be regarded as having been approved by the
National Assembly without amendment; or
(b) votes on the resolution, the resolution  shall have been—
(i) amended only if at least two-thirds of the members of the
Assembly vote in support of an amendment;
(ii)rejected only if at least two-thirds of the members of the
Assembly vote against it, irrespective whether it has
first been amended by the Assembly; or
(iii) approved, in any other case. 128
Constitution of Kenya, 2010
(6) If the National Assembly approves an amended version of the
resolution, or rejects the resolution, the Senate, at its option, may
either—
(a) adopt a new resolution under clause (1), in which case the
provisions of this clause and clause (4) and (5) apply afresh;
or
(b) request that the matter be referred to a joint committee of the
two Houses of Parliament for mediation under Article 113,
applied with the necessary modifications.
(7) A resolution under this Article that is approved under clause
(5) shall be binding until a subsequent resolution has been approved.
(8) Despite clause (1), the Senate may, by resolution supported
by at least two-thirds of its members, amend a resolution at any time
after it has been approved.
(9) Clauses (2) to (8), with the necessary modifications, apply to
a resolution under clause (8).
Annual Division and Allocation of Revenue Bills.
218. (1) At least two months before the end of each financial
year, there shall be introduced in Parliament—
(a) a Division of Revenue Bill, which shall divide revenue raised
by the national government among the national and county
levels of government in accordance with this Constitution; and
(b) a County Allocation of Revenue Bill, which shall divide among
the  counties  the  revenue  allocated  to  the  county  level  of
government on the basis determined in accordance with the
resolution in force under Article 217.
(2) Each Bill required by clause (1) shall be accompanied by a
memorandum setting out—
(a) an explanation of revenue allocation as proposed by the Bill;
(b) an evaluation of the Bill in relation to the criteria set out in
````

## What this means (mechanical reading aid, not legal advice)

- The index files this text under article 180 of the Constitution of Kenya.
- The index files it under the chapter heading “Chapter EIGHTEEN: —TRANSITIONAL AND CONSEQUENTIAL”.
- The passage runs to about 5,334 words.
- Read plainly, it mentions assembly and association — it protects gathering together or joining a group, union or party (the words used: “assembly”); it mentions property — it addresses property, possession, or taking property compulsorily (the words used: “property”); it mentions equality and non-discrimination — it requires equal treatment or forbids discrimination (the words used: “equal”).
- **Caveat:** The row’s stored title is a body fragment, not a heading (“(2);”), so it is not used as the provision’s title here.
- **Caveat:** The index gives this passage an article number but stores a body fragment where a heading would be, so the number could not be cross-checked against the text. Check it against the official Constitution before relying on it in a citation.
- **Caveat:** This index row contains 36 separately numbered sections, so it is a chapter-length passage rather than one provision. Cite the passage, and treat any single section number as unverified.

> This is a mechanical reading aid generated from the text above by matching words in it. It is not legal advice, not a lawyer’s interpretation, and not a substitute for the provision itself.

## How to cite this

Constitution of Kenya, article 180, Portable Lawyer, https://www.portablelaw.com/provision/2d7c38b0-f4a7-45bb-b6da-addc4819d840 (accessed 27 September 2026).

## Related

- [Constitution of Kenya](https://www.portablelaw.com/countries/03fe64e6-7dc2-4959-950b-e59f32a20028)
- [Kenya on Portable Lawyer](https://www.portablelaw.com/countries/03fe64e6-7dc2-4959-950b-e59f32a20028)
- [HTML version of this provision](https://www.portablelaw.com/provision/2d7c38b0-f4a7-45bb-b6da-addc4819d840)
- [Machine-readable corpus digest](https://www.portablelaw.com/llms-full.txt)

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Portable Lawyer · Article 180 of the Constitution of Kenya (chapter: “Chapter EIGHTEEN: —TRANSITIONAL AND CONSEQUENTIAL”). (d) is convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment for at least twelve months; or (e) is removed from office under this Constitution. (2) If a vacancy occurs in the office…
