Administration and Finance
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1002/j.1099-162X.1958.tb01182.x |
| Date | 01 October 1958 |
| Published date | 01 October 1958 |
Administration and
Finance
SECTIONS
IX-X
IX.
ADMINISTRATION
(a) Division rif
Functions
between
Central
Government
and
Local
Government
Authorities
85. We have considered
the
question of defining the respective jurisdictions
of
Central
Government
and
of local
government
authorities in
urban
areas.
We consider
that
the
Central
Government
should be responsible for law
and
order, for
the
provision of those services which
are
of
territorial application
and
also for those services of local application only, which local authorities
are
not
yet
capable
of
administering. Responsibility for all
purely
local services
should be progressively entrusted to local authorities as
and
when
they
are
willing
and
able to take
them
over.
The
limits
of
local government jurisdiction
should be clearly defined by legislation in
each
territory.
86.
In
paragraph
57 of his report,
Mr.
Molohan
has
made
detailed
and
precise recommendations regarding
the
division of functions between
Central
Government
and
local government authorities in
Tanganyika.
We have
considered
whether
it is possible to make similarly detailed recommendations
which would be applicable to all territories
but
have concluded
that
differences
between one territory
and
another
in stages
of
development
and
other
relevant
factors
make
this impracticable.
(b) Local
Government
Structure
87.
The
following is a
summary
of
the present situation in the larger of
the
territories represented
at
the Conference
and
of plans being
made
to change
it:
(i)
KENYA
In
Kenya
there is a single-tier system for each
urban
area, i.c, there is one local
government
body
which includes effective African representation
and
is
supported
by
strongAfrican Affairs Committees
and
General
Ward
Councils (or Advisory Councils).
In
Nairobi
the
chairman
of
both
these
latter
bodies is an African. These councils
and
committees
have
a
strong
say in the
management
of the high density areas, including
the
financing of
their
services,
and
no Municipal Council can afford to ignore them.
African
Trust
Funds
are
established in all Municipalities.
These
are
created by
profits from
the
sale of native
beer
and
other
facilities provided for Africans,
and
arc
used towards financing African Welfare Services.
In
Mombasa
policy regarding
revenue or
expenditure
from the
Fund
is not subject to the approval of the Finance
Committee,
but
is considered direct by
the
full Municipal Council. Legislation has
recently been
enacted
to
enable
a
Ward
Council in
any
Municipality which wishes
to
rate
itself for the
purpose
of a capital project to
apply
to
the
Municipal Council
to impose such a
rate
on the
inhabitants
of the
ward.
African Municipal councillors
are
at
present
nominated
but
will shortly be elected in
the
larger towns.
(ii)
UGANDA
In
Uganda
urban
local authorities
are
established
either
under
the Municipalities
Ordinance
or
under
the
Townships
Ordinance.
Authorities established
under
the
former
Ordinance
are
given virtually
autonomous
powers,
but
those
appointed
under
the
latter
are
entirely
dependent
on the Protectorate
Government.
This
208
To continue reading
Request your trial