Local authority in Homa bay, Kenya, during Jomo Kenyatta’s first republic, 1963-1978

This paper examines the development of local authority in Homa Bay during the first republic of President Jomo Kenyatta. It has considered the restructuring and rebuilding of the nation, examined the changes that affected civil servants in local authority’s governance, analyzed the provincial administration and the chief’s tenure in Homa Bay, assessed the place of the 1966 Hardacre Commission, investigated development of infrastructures in Homa Bay (1960-66), reviewed the 1969 political crisis, examined the South Nyanza development plans and the role of NGOs in development in Homa Bay. The paper used the structural-functional theory in the understanding of the structures of local authorities’ governance in Kenya. The functioning of a system determines the classification of a system. The methodology was based on qualitative approach whereby data collection was done through purposive sampling and analysis done by coding the responses from participants thematically. The results of this research would inform policy making by the state in matters pertaining to local authority governance and devolution.