EVALUATING SERVICE OPTIMIZATION PROBLEM OF DEVOLVED ADMINISTRATIVE REGIONS IN KENYA USING GIS BASED TECHNIQUES.

Devolution paved way for inclusive public governance in Kenya leading to creation of new administrative regions. This was meant to provide equal opportunities and benefits for the rural area inhabitants. However, the design and spatial organisation of these regions limits access to services and public participation. Using some newly created administrative regions, this study sought to find an alternative way of restructuring the current administrative units to address issues of non-inclusivity by including demographic and spatial characteristics for each unit. The objective of the study was to minimize distance and population distribution variations. Methodology used was based on the concept of regionalization and Origin-Destination Problem Cost matrix spatial algorithm. The model produced improved regions as new seats with reduced distances and their distribution based on optimum distances. Use of GIS based techniques enhanced visualisation and the development of various simulation scenarios which were used in comparative evaluation of optimization problem. The study showed a need to restructure the current administrative ward regions through merging and agglomeration to get possible regional population uniformity and minimum impedances.