This document contains definitions of terms used in other areas of the website, with links, where necessary, to fuller discussions in published papers or manuscripts. Within each of Kenya's 9 provinces there are multiple districts. Following the British colonial model, each district has its own District Officer, a civil servant appointee who, as the senior representative of the Kenyan government, is responsible for the administration of the district, including the appointment of chiefs .
Districts vary significantly in both geographic size, population size and density.
In 1996-7 South Nyanza District, one of the most populous districts in the country, was divided into three new districts, Homa Bay, Karachuonyo, and Suba. In return he receives both status and a share of the small gifts that people bring as payment for the adjudication of their conflict. Traditionally, a miji kumi was the firstborn son or oldest surviving brother of the previous miji kumi and he attained his position after an apprenticeship to the preceding miji kumi . Usually, however, they are in charge of many more. In our sites, for example, the smallest number of households was 4, the largest 56, and the mean was 19.